Office of the Revisor of Statutes
SF 2819
2nd Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 07/09/2025 09:32 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing requirements for green burials; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 149A.02, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 306; 307.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 149A.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 42. new text end
new text begin Green burial. new text end
new text begin
"Green burial" means a method of burial that emphasizes
environmental sustainability without interfering with natural decomposition and:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the body is not embalmed;
new text end
new text begin
(2) a biodegradable casket or shroud is used; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) no vault or outer burial container is employed for a casket or shroud.
new text end
Sec. 2.
new text begin
[306.991] GREEN BURIALS IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Drainage system" has the meaning given in section 103E.005, subdivision 12.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Green burial" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 42.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Natural watercourse" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 13.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Ordinary high-water level" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision
14.
new text end
new text begin
(f) "Water supply well" has the meaning given in section 103I.005, subdivision 20a.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Green burial requirements. new text end
new text begin
A municipality, town, or other cemetery governed
by this chapter that allows for green burials must comply with the requirements of this
section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Green burial plot locations. new text end
new text begin
(a) Green burial plots must have a designated
location within the cemetery. Green burial plot locations must:
new text end
new text begin
(1) be set back 50 feet from property lines;
new text end
new text begin
(2) maintain at least three and one-half feet clearance above the ordinary high-water
level;
new text end
new text begin
(3) not be in standing water;
new text end
new text begin
(4) not be within zone 1 groundwater source protection zones around a spring, water
supply well, or a shaft drilled into the ground meant to extract water; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) not be within flood-prone areas.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Green burial plot locations must be a certain distance from water sources. Green
burial plot locations must be:
new text end
new text begin
(1) 50 feet from water supply wells and shafts drilled into the ground used to extract
water;
new text end
new text begin
(2) 100 feet from other springs or watercourses; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) 33 feet from drainage systems.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Burial depth. new text end
new text begin
(a) Green burial plots must be at a minimum depth of three and
one-half feet from the base of the grave to the soil horizon.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Green burials must have three and one-half feet of cover.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Burial density. new text end
new text begin
Green burial plots must be a maximum of 300 burials per acre
over a 100 year period.
new text end
Sec. 3.
new text begin
[306.992] SCATTERING OF HYDROLYZED OR CREMATED REMAINS.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Cremated remains" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 7.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Hydrolyzed remains" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 24a.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Designated location. new text end
new text begin
A municipality, town, or other cemetery governed by
this chapter that allows for scattering of hydrolyzed remains or cremated remains must
designate a location within the cemetery for the scattering of hydrolyzed remains or cremated
remains.
new text end
Sec. 4.
new text begin
[307.14] GREEN BURIALS IN PRIVATE CEMETERIES.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Drainage system" has the meaning given in section 103E.005, subdivision 12.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Green burial" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 42.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Natural watercourse" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision 13.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Ordinary high-water level" has the meaning given in section 103G.005, subdivision
14.
new text end
new text begin
(f) "Water supply well" has the meaning given in section 103I.005, subdivision 20a.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Green burial requirements. new text end
new text begin
A person who owns a cemetery governed by this
chapter that allows for green burials must comply with the requirements of this section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Green burial plot locations. new text end
new text begin
(a) Green burial plots must have a designated
location within the cemetery. Green burial plot locations must:
new text end
new text begin
(1) be set back 50 feet from property lines;
new text end
new text begin
(2) maintain at least three and one-half feet clearance above the ordinary high-water
level;
new text end
new text begin
(3) not be in standing water;
new text end
new text begin
(4) not be within zone 1 groundwater source protection zones around a spring, water
supply well, or a shaft drilled into the ground meant to extract water; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) not be within flood-prone areas.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Green burial plot locations must be a certain distance from water sources. Green
burial plot locations must be:
new text end
new text begin
(1) 50 feet from water supply wells and shafts drilled into the ground used to extract
water;
new text end
new text begin
(2) 100 feet from other springs or watercourses; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) 33 feet from drainage systems.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Burial depth. new text end
new text begin
(a) Green burial plots must be at a minimum depth of three and
one-half feet from the base of the grave to the soil horizon.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Green burials must have three and one-half feet of cover.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Burial density. new text end
new text begin
Green burial plots must be a maximum of 300 burials per acre
over a 100 year period.
new text end
Sec. 5.
new text begin
[307.15] SCATTERING OF HYDROLYZED OR CREMATED REMAINS.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Cremated remains" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 7.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Hydrolyzed remains" has the meaning given in section 149A.02, subdivision 24a.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Designated location. new text end
new text begin
A person who owns a cemetery governed by this chapter
that allows for scattering of hydrolyzed remains or cremated remains must designate a
location within the cemetery for the scattering of hydrolyzed or cremated remains.
new text end