HB 5331 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE AIR PERMITS OF CERTAIN CREMATORIES.

House ofBill Representatives General Assembly File No.

1425331 FebruarySpecial Session,Act 2026 House Bill No.

533126-33 HouseAN ofACT Representatives,CONCERNING MarchTHE 24,AIR 2026PERMITS TheOF CommitteeCERTAIN onCREMATORIES. Environment reported through REP.

PARKER of the 101st Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE AIR PERMITS OF CERTAIN CREMATORIES.

(Effective from passage) Notwithstanding(a) anyThe provisionCommissioner of chapterEnergy 446cand ofEnvironmental theProtection generalshall statutes,establish anya crematoryworking that,group onto orevaluate beforemercury Januaryvapor 1,emissions 2020, was approved for operation and obtainedfine anparticulate inspectionmatter certificateemissions pursuantfactors toassociated sectionwith 19a-320crematories ofused thefor generalhuman statutesremains mayand continue to operatedevelop duringrecommendations anyfor periodthe inuse whichof such crematoryemissions seeksfactors eitherin athe renewalreview of a permit pursuantapplications, toregistrations chapterand 446cother ofapprovals theissued general statutes for continued operations or the issuance of a permit pursuant to saidsection chapter22a-174 forof the expansiongeneral ofstatutes. such operations.

This(b) actThe shallCommissioner takeof effectEnergy asand followsEnvironmental andProtection, or the commissioner's designee, shall amendconvene the working group not later than June 15, 2026, which may include the following sections:members, as appointedby thecommissioner:(1) The Commissioner ofPublic Health, or the commissioner's designee;

Section(2) 1a fromrepresentative passageof Newthe sectionConnecticut ENVFuneral JointDirectors FavorableAssociation, HB5331as /designated Fileby No.such association;

142(3) 1a HB5331representative Fileof No.crematory operators in the state, as designated by the commissioner in conjunction with the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association;

142(4) Thea followingrepresentative Fiscalfrom Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefitCremation ofAssociation the members of theNorth GeneralAmerica, Assembly,as solelydesignated forby purposesthe ofcommissioner information,in summarizationconjunction andwith explanation and do not represent the intentConnecticut ofFuneral theDirectors GeneralAssociation; Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In(5) general, fiscal impacts are based upon a varietyrepresentative offrom informationalHouse sources,Bill includingNo. the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever5331 applicable,a agencycrematory dataequipment issupplier consultedor manufacturer, as partdesignated ofby the analysis,commissioner howeverin finalconjunction productswith dothe notConnecticut necessarilyFuneral reflectDirectors anAssociation; assessment from any specific department.

OFA(6) Fiscala Noterepresentative Stateof Impact:a municipality with a crematory located in the jurisdiction subject to permitting under section 22a-174 of the general statutes;

None(7) Municipala Impact:representative of an environmental organization with expertise in air quality;

None(8) Explanationan Theindividual billwith makesexpertise ain proceduralmercury changeemissions, involvingemissions themodeling continuedor operationatmospheric ofscience certainfrom crematoriesan undergoinginstitution specifiedof permithigher processes,education; resulting in no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities.

HB5331and /(9) Fileany No.other person, as deemed necessary by the commissioner, to fulfill the purposes of this section.

142(c) 2In HB5331undertaking Fileits No.work for the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section, the working group shall:

142(1) OLRReview Billthe Analysisrequirements HBof 5331section AN22a-174 ACTof CONCERNINGthe THEgeneral AIRstatutes PERMITSand OFany CERTAINregulations CREMATORIES.adopted pursuant to said section, including section 22a-174-3a of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, as such requirements apply to crematories;

SUMMARY(2) Thereview Officefederal regulations and guidance, including from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of LegislativeEnergy Researchand doesEnvironmental notProtection, analyzeand Specialany Acts.other state or local jurisdiction in the United States concerning mercury emissions from crematories;

COMMITTEE(3) ACTIONevaluate Environmentavailable Committeedata, Jointemissions Favorablefactors Yeaand 34methodologies Nayused 0to (03/13/2026)estimate HB5331mercury /vapor Fileemissions No.and fine particulate matter emissions from the cremation of human remains;

142(4) 3assess variability in mercury vapor emissions, including, but not limited to, variability attributable to dental amalgam, operating practices and emissions control technologies;

(5) identify best available practicesandtechnologiesforminimizingmercuryvaporemissionsand fine particulate matter emissions from crematories;

(6) evaluate the manner in which emissions factors are used by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in implementing section 22a-174 of the general statutes, including, but not limited to, in permit application review and establishment of new setback guidelines for currently permitted crematories and whether updated factors are Special Act No.

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5331 warranted;

and (7) develop recommendations for mercury vapor emissions factors and fine particulate matter emissions factors and related guidance to be used by the department in carrying out its responsibilities under section 22a-174 of the general statutes.

(d) Not later than January 15, 2027, the working group shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment.

Such report shall include the findings and recommendations of the working group, including any legislative recommendations.

(e) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall provide administrative staff support to the working group.

(f) The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits the report required pursuant to subsection (d) of this section or January 15, 2027, whichever is later.

Governor's Action:

Approved June 4, 2026 Special Act No.

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