How should NH law govern the dead?

No one likes to think about dying—except, it seems, the New Hampshire Legislature.

This year, Granite State lawmakers have introduced a trio of bills that rethink what happens to us after we shuffle off this mortal coil. From green burials to helping out our four-legged law enforcement officers, here is a look at how state law regarding dead bodies could change this year.

The “Live Free and Die Free Act”

If traditional burial or cremation isn't your preference, a bill under consideration in the Legislature offers a greener alternative. And yes, it really is titled the “Live Free and Die Free Act.” Introduced by Rep. Jessicca LaMontagne (D-Dover), HB 1457 seeks to officially legalize and heavily regulate natural organic reduction (NOR)—more commonly known as human composting.

Under the bill, any facility offering the service must be strictly licensed and inspected by the state’s Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The legislation outlines a rigid, step-by-step process to ensure dignity and safety: operators must wait at least 48 hours and get medical examiner clearance before reducing a body, remove any medical implants or jewelry, and ensure all remaining bone fragments are pulverized into unidentifiable particles. Ultimately, the nutrient-rich remains are returned to the family, who can legally scatter the soil on private property or use it to plant a memorial tree in the backyard—though the bill makes it explicitly clear the soil can never be used for human food production.

In a public hearing on this bill, Rep. LaMontagne testified that conventional burials use up increasingly scarce land. She described the modern cemetery as “a honeycomb of concrete vaults buried under a very shallow layer of turf designed more for riding a lawnmower than for a spiritual sendoff". She also pointed out that 14 states have already authorized NOR.

However, Bob Dunn, the Director of Public Policy for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, opposed the bill. He argued that treating human remains in a utilitarian way could send a message that living human beings can be treated similarly.

The House passed the bill, and it is currently being reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Training cadaver dogs with the real deal

Law enforcement relies on highly trained cadaver canines when searching for a dead body. These dogs often prove instrumental in solving missing persons cases. But to effectively train these dogs to detect human remains, they need to practice with the real thing.

Introduced by Rep. Terry Roy (R-Deerfield), HB 1348 creates a legal framework for law enforcement agencies to possess portions of human remains for the sole purpose of training these canines. The bill was requested by the Department of Safety.

Captain Matt Amatucci of the NH State Police testified that the bill fills a long-standing gap in the law by establishing an ethical and transparent process. As it stands, New Hampshire law enforcement only have access to human remains obtained through the Office of the Medical Examiner many years ago for training purposes. There is also no legal pathway for them to dispose of those older remains.

The legislation requires law enforcement to obtain written consent either from the individual prior to their death or from their next of kin, similar to all other voluntary anatomical donation programs. Once the K-9 training is complete, the remains must be returned to a designated funeral home or mortuary for lawful disposition.

Help wanted: no embalming required

New Hampshire is facing a provider crisis in the funeral industry. The workforce is aging toward retirement, and families are increasingly asking for celebratory events that do not include traditional embalming. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2025 Cremation & Burial Report projects that “cremation will outpace burials by more than six to one by 2045.”

Introduced by Rep. Jennifer Rhodes (R-Winchester) and recently signed into law by Gov. Ayotte, HB 1119 aims to address the shortage of funeral directors by creating a state licensing process for the new position of “associate funeral director.”

Under the new law, associate funeral directors can perform all relevant duties except embalming. Applicants must still complete a board-approved certificate program, pass an exam, and finish a one-year apprenticeship. This bill was specifically requested by the Funeral Director Association to address the amount of embalming that an associate is required to perform before becoming a director.

Julie Thibault of the NH Funeral Directors Association testified in support of the bill, noting that funeral directors used to be “born into the job,” taking over their family business. This is becoming much less common. She stated that apprenticeship programs are seeing an increase in dropouts. According to her testimony, when applicants realize current law expects them to perform restorative work, they often seek work elsewhere.

HB 1119 sailed through the Legislature without opposition and was signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte on April 3, 2026.

What do you think?

While the associate funeral director bill has already been signed into law, both the natural organic reduction bill (HB 1457) and the cadaver dog training bill (HB 1348) are currently under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

What do you think—should the Senate advance these new rules for the dearly departed?

Let your senators know! Find who represents your town and how to contact them on our elected official pages.