Substitute Bill No. 5354 is a legislative proposal concerning the process of terramation, which is defined as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil, also known as natural organic reduction. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Public Health to establish a working group within the Department of Public Health to review and determine necessary modifications to current permitting processes, regulations, authorization forms, and agency approval processes to facilitate the authorized use of natural organic reduction for the final disposition of human remains in the state.

The working group will include various representatives from the Department of Public Health, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Vital Records Office, the Department of Consumer Protection, and the funeral service industry, among others. The Commissioner of Public Health is required to submit a report by January 1, 2025, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly with jurisdiction over environmental and public health matters. This report should include legislative recommendations for statutory revisions or enactments to authorize the use of natural organic reduction, a proposed timeline for revising regulations, and details on the implementation of necessary permitting and approval processes. The bill will take effect upon passage and will create a new section in the state's statutes.