Legislative Tracker · WV
Aquamation is legal here. The other is not — yet. Where each status comes from, and what your options are either way.
Last reviewed August 2026Review cadence: QuarterlyNext review November 2026
At a glance
Natural organic reduction (NOR)
Human composting is not yet legal in West Virginia. SB 1054 is live in the legislature. Until it passes, the method is only reachable by transporting the body to a state where it is authorised. Most bills of this kind do not pass on their first attempt.
Note
Introduced.
Alkaline hydrolysis
In West Virginia, aquamation — legally, alkaline hydrolysis — is an authorised method of final disposition. Licensed providers operate in the state, so it can be arranged without leaving it.
Note
Alkaline hydrolysis is an authorised method of final disposition. Licensed providers are operating.
Live legislation1 bill
SB 1054 — Human composting
A bill's presence here is a fact about the legislature, not a forecast. Most first-attempt bills of this kind do not pass; several of the states where a method is now legal took three or four sessions to get there.
If it is not available here
A body can lawfully be transported across state lines to a licensed facility, and funeral homes arrange it routinely. The remains come back to you. This is the route families in every not-yet state already use.
Human composting
Expect transport to add several hundred to a couple of thousand dollars depending on distance, plus a few days. Ask any funeral home for an itemised list before agreeing — they are required to give you one.
What it costs
| Method | Status | Typical all in | Scattering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquamation | Legal | $2,500–$4,450 | Treated as cremated remains — landowner permission required. |
Under the FTC Funeral Rule every provider must give you an itemised price list on request, and may not require a package. Ask for it. Your rights are here.
Common questions
Human composting is not yet legal in West Virginia. SB 1054 is live in the legislature. Until it passes, the method is only reachable by transporting the body to a state where it is authorised. Most bills of this kind do not pass on their first attempt.
In West Virginia, aquamation — legally, alkaline hydrolysis — is an authorised method of final disposition. Licensed providers operate in the state, so it can be arranged without leaving it.
Aquamation runs $2,500–$4,450 all in. Those are typical ranges rather than quotes, and they exclude items a family may add such as a memorial service or an urn. Providers must give you an itemised price list on request under the FTC Funeral Rule.
Yes. A body can lawfully be transported across state lines to a licensed facility, and funeral homes arrange this routinely. It adds transport cost and a few days, and the remains are returned to you. Nothing about living in West Virginia makes either method unreachable — it makes it more expensive.
Sources
Every status above traces to one of these. Where a bill tracker is cited rather than a legislature's own record, it is labelled as a tracker — some legislatures publish no stable per-bill URL, and pretending otherwise would be the dishonest fix.
Recent changes
No changes recorded since this record was created in August 2026. Every automated or reviewed edit is logged here from that date on.
Read next
Last reviewed August 2026
Next quarterly review November 2026
Sources: state legislatures, state funeral boards, OpenStates, LegiScan