Mortuary Science 
Dual Notice of Intent to Adopt

Disposition of the Dead, Natural Organic Reduction, and Transfer Care Specialist Rulemaking

Revisor's ID: #4882

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is proposing a rulemaking project to create new rules under Minnesota Rules, chapter 4610, Disposition of the Dead, including creating possible rules around transfer care specialists and natural organic reduction. Minnesota state agencies adopt and update state rules needed to help administer laws they enforce.

MDH proposes minor updates to the following rules:

• Establishing any rules needed to address registration or training of transfer care specialists.
• Establishing any rules needed to address natural organic reduction.
• Potentially adding rules around crematories and/or body preparation rooms, to establish sanitary or other standards, consistent with industry norms.
• Potentially add technical rules needed to enforce Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A.

Once a rule is adopted, it has the force and effect of law, so it is critical that those who are potentially affected by the rule change have a voice in the process. The rulemaking process offers several opportunities for affected parties and the public to offer comments or concerns on rules. To be notified of rulemaking activities and opportunities to provide comments, sign up for our rulemaking email list: Health Regulation Rulemaking Email Updates.

All proposed rule languages, supporting documents, public meetings, and public comment opportunities will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Dual Notice of Intent to Adopt

MDH has published its Dual Notice of Intent to Adopt rules related to the Disposition of the Dead, Natural Organic Reduction, and Transfer Care Specialists in the State Register on December 29, 2025. You, as a member of the public, will have 30 days to submit written comments and/or a written request that a hearing be held on the proposed rules until Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.  

You may leave comments at the Court of Administrative Hearings Rulemaking eComments website

• Dual Notice
• Proposed Rules
• Statement of Need and Reasonableness
• December 29, 2025, State Register Publication

Please contact Celeste Marin (celeste.marin@state.mn.us, 651-201-4849) with any questions or feedback about this rulemaking project.

Hearing

If 25 or more persons submit a written request for a hearing on the rules by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the agency will hold a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. You can participate in the virtual hearing, which will be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge from the Court of Administrative Hearings, via WebEx by using this link along with the associated access code and password:  

For a video and audio connection, join the hearing through an internet connection:  

• WebEx meeting link
• Webinar Number (access code): # 2485 739 0510  
• Password: # h9iHdM8zyR2 (49443689 when dialing from a phone or video system)  

For audio-only connection, join the virtual hearing by telephone:  

• Call: 1-855-282-6330 United States Toll Free

To find out whether the agency will adopt the rules without a hearing or if it will hold the hearing, you should contact the agency contact person or check the agency website after January 28, 2026, and before April 21, 2026.   

Goals

This rulemaking process proposes adopting new rules in Minnesota Rules, chapter 4610 to:

• Add any rules needed to address registration or training of transfer care specialists.
• Add any rules needed to address natural organic reduction.
• Add any rules around crematories and/or body preparation rooms, to establish sanitary or other standards, consistent with industry norms.
• Potentially add technical rules needed to enforce Minnesota Statutes, chapter 149A.

Please contact Celeste Marin (celeste.marin@state.mn.us, 651-201-4849) with any questions or feedback about this rulemaking project.

Proposed Timeline

• August 26, 2024 — Request for comments published in the State Register.
• Fall 2024/Winter 2025 — Drafting of rule language and Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR).
• 2025 — Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules published in the State Register.
• To be determined — adoption of rules.

Request for Comments

The official Request for Comments was published in the Minnesota State Register and is also available here: Disposition of the Dead Request for Comment (PDF).
Interested persons may submit comments via the following form: Office of Administration Hearings - Comment on Proposed Rules.