Live Free, Die Free Texas Raises Public Support to Give Texans More Freedom in Disposition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Austin, Texas, March 10, 2023— This week on March 7, 2023, Senator Nathan Johnson’s Senate Bill 105 (SB 105) filed November 14, 2022 was discussed in the committee hearing and testimony was given. On February 27, 2023, Representative Ann Johnson of Harris County filed HB 2895. Both bills seek to amend the definition of cremation under Texas state law to include water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, as a choice for all Texans. This is the third legislative motion to expand Texans’ rights to choose their preferred method of disposal of remains. Water cremation is currently a legal option for citizens in 28 states.

Both SB 105 and HB 2895 read identical:

“‘Cremation’ means the irreversible process of reducing human remains to essential elements, including bone fragments, through direct flame, extreme heat, and evaporation or through alkaline hydrolysis.”

Alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation or aquamation, uses liquid (95 percent water, 5 percent alkali solution), elevated heat, and water to break the chemical bonds that hold the body’s proteins together. This process directly replicates the effect of naturally occurring decomposition of natural earthen burials. Similar to flame-based cremation, the remaining bones are pulverized and returned to the family as cremated remains.

“Constituents in more than half of the United States have more rights than we do in Texas when it comes to the disposal of our remains,” says Rep. Johnson. “Families deserve the right to select a final disposition method in a way they deem respectful. Alkaline hydrolysis represents a proven, environmentally- and cost-effective method that presents families with another option as they make end of life choices.”

Although alkaline hydrolysis is not currently available in Texas, nearby states including Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona, and Missouri have expanded the definition of cremation to offer this option. As legalization grows across the United States, funeral homes are experiencing an increased demand for water cremation.

“Because alkaline hydrolysis is not currently legal in Texas, we are forced to send loved ones out of state,” says Eric Neuhaus, founder of Green Cremation Texas. “Although Texans are demonstrating a demand for water cremation, we as Texans currently don’t have the freedom to choose what happens to our bodies when we die. This results in added cost and time, when water cremation is essentially the same process as widely accepted flame cremation, using a different medium to produce the same results. One of our founding core principles is championing Texas families, and we are therefore championing this bill.”

To aid the motion presented by Sen. Johnson and Rep. Johnson, Neuhaus and the team at Green Cremation Texas have created the “Live Free, Die Free Texas” campaign to raise awareness of the need for more final disposition options to include water cremation.

“Texans need to understand their rights to choose a disposition that is meaningful to them,” says Neuhaus. “It is time for our legislators to prioritize our freedoms and legalize Alkaline Hydrolysis as an option for all Texans.”

In addition to educational resources about the water cremation process and legalization in other states, Live Free, Die Free Texas today launched a change.org petition to garner public support for this movement. To learn more about the campaign and sign the petition, visit livefreediefreetx.com.

ABOUT GREEN CREMATION TEXAS:

Founded in 2018, the mission of Green Cremation Texas is to empower families through the thoughtful adoption of technology and innovation, reducing the stress and environmental impact brought on by traditional funeral practices. We do this through empathetic, big-hearted support coupled with an unique approach to cremation. During the 88th legislative session in 2023, the funeral home launched the campaign Live Free, Die Free Texas to engage and inform Texans of the current legislative session and the bills going through the House and Senate to legalize water cremation in the state. In Texas, you can choose how you want to live. Unfortunately, Texans don’t yet have the freedom to control what happens to their body after they die. It’s time to live free, and die free, Texas. Learn more at livefreediefreetx.com or join the conversation @livefreediefreetx on Facebook and Instagram and @lfdftx on Twitter.

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Media Contacts:

Ashley Schlosser
(512) 968-0562
[email protected]

Mary Green
(704) 576-5178
[email protected]

Originally posted On: https://syndication.cloud/companion-bills-hb-2895-and-sb-105-aim-to-legalize-water-cremation-in-texas/