Office of Cemetery Oversight - Study of Deathcare and Funeral Practices

HB 711 requires Maryland's Office of Cemetery Oversight to study the environmental and public health impacts of deathcare practices, in collaboration with the Departments of Health, Labor, and Environment. The study will examine nine specific methods - including embalming, traditional burials, cremation, water cremation, and body composting - to assess their effects on land use, soil/water quality, air emissions, worker/community health, costs, and regulatory processes. It mandates site visits, data collection from other states, and input from industry groups, environmental organizations, and diverse communities. The Office must submit an interim report by December 2025 and a final report by July 2026, which will include findings and policy recommendations for sustainable deathcare options. This bill does not change current laws but sets the stage for future regulatory or policy decisions based on the study's results.