Alkaline Hydrolysis in Texas: Why Aquamation and Human Composting Are Still Illegal

If you've read about alkaline hydrolysis — also marketed as aquamation, water cremation, or bio-cremation — and wondered whether you can choose it in Texas, the answer is currently no. As of 2026, Texas maintains what the Texas Funeral Service Commission calls an "absolute ban" on alkaline hydrolysis for public use. Human composting (natural organic reduction) is in the same position: attempted, failed, still illegal.

Here's what the law actually says, why it keeps failing to change, and what eco-conscious options are genuinely available in Texas right now.

What Is Alkaline Hydrolysis?

Alkaline hydrolysis is a water-based process that uses heat, pressure, and an alkaline solution — typically potassium hydroxide — to accelerate the natural decomposition of human remains. The process takes several hours and results in a sterile effluent (water and dissolved organic material) and bone fragments similar in appearance to those from traditional flame cremation. Families receive the remaining bone fragments, which can be kept, scattered, or interred like conventional cremated remains.

The environmental case for alkaline hydrolysis is substantial: it uses roughly 90% less energy than flame cremation, produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions from the process itself, and eliminates the release of mercury from dental fillings and other heavy metals. In states where it is legal — including California, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and over 20 others — it has become an increasingly popular option.

What Is Human Composting (Natural Organic Reduction)?

Natural Organic Reduction, sometimes called terramation or human composting, is a different process. A body is placed in a vessel with organic material (wood chips, straw, alfalfa), and within approximately 30 to 45 days, microbial activity transforms the remains into roughly one cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil. Families can use the resulting soil for gardening, scatter it in meaningful locations, or donate it to conservation land.

Human composting is currently legal in a handful of states, including Washington (where it originated), Colorado, Oregon, California, Vermont, and several others. Texas is not among them.

Why Are These Options Banned in Texas?

The Texas Funeral Service Commission's ban on alkaline hydrolysis for general public use is not an ambiguity in the law — it is an explicit regulatory enforcement position. The Commission's compliance notices state clearly that current Texas law does not authorize alkaline hydrolysis as a legal disposition method outside of anatomical donation programs.

The sole legal exception in Texas involves anatomical donation at UT Southwestern Medical Center, which uses alkaline hydrolysis as part of its body donation program for medical education purposes. This exception applies only to whole-body donations to the institution — not to individual family arrangements.

The Legislative History

Multiple bills have attempted to legalize these alternatives through the Texas Legislature:

Senate Bill 1327 (89th Legislature, 2025): Would have amended the Texas Health and Safety Code to define and regulate alkaline hydrolysis as a legitimate cremation process. The bill failed in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee without reaching a floor vote.

House Bill 2200 (89th Legislature, 2025): Would have legalized natural organic reduction in Texas. The bill passed committee but failed to pass its third reading in the Texas House before the session ended.

The opposition has been consistent across multiple sessions: religious groups (including the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops) have objected on theological grounds, and segments of the funeral industry have opposed adding competitive alternatives to their market. The biennial nature of the Texas Legislature (which meets only every two years) means the next opportunity for new legislation is 2027.

What Eco-Friendly Options Are Actually Available in Texas?

The realistic alternatives for environmentally conscious Texans are:

Green burial in a natural burial cemetery. This is the most ecologically sound option currently available in Texas. A properly conducted green burial — no embalming, no concrete vault, biodegradable container, native landscape — allows the body to decompose naturally and return to the soil. Texas does not require embalming, does not mandate concrete vaults under state law, and has a growing number of certified natural burial cemeteries. See the full guide: green burial in Texas.

Private burial on qualifying rural land. Texas allows landowners to establish a private family cemetery on rural property that meets statutory distance requirements from municipal limits. This option allows maximum simplicity — a biodegradable shroud or simple pine box, minimal land disturbance, and complete family control of the process.

Traditional flame cremation. While cremation does produce carbon dioxide emissions and uses energy, it avoids chemical embalming, eliminates the land use associated with traditional burial, and produces no concrete or metal waste. For families who value simplicity and low cost alongside environmental consideration, it remains the most accessible option.

How to Stay Updated on Texas Law

The Texas Legislature meets from January to June in odd-numbered years. If you are planning ahead and want alkaline hydrolysis or human composting to be an option, tracking bills during the 90th Legislative Session (2027) is the only path forward under current Texas law. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Texas (fcactx.org) and the Texas Funeral Service Commission (tfsc.texas.gov) are the best sources for updates.

If you are making decisions now, focus on the options that are currently legal. A properly executed green burial in a licensed natural burial cemetery achieves the ecological goals of soil return, chemical-free disposition, and minimal environmental footprint without waiting for legislative change.

The Texas Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide covers the full landscape of legal disposition options in Texas, including the complete home burial requirements, green cemetery selection criteria, and the statutory framework that governs what Texas crematories are legally permitted to offer.

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