SPRINGFIELD – Illinois families will have the ability to scatter their loved ones' cremated remains according to their traditions and religious beliefs starting Jan. 1, thanks to a law spearheaded by State Senator Laura Ellman.

“In moments of profound loss, families should not also have to navigate uncertainty and red tape,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure brings compassion, clarity and dignity to a deeply personal process while ensuring our waterways are treated with care.”

Ellman’s law allows families to scatter an individual’s cremated remains in a river, when a tenet of their faith includes the practice of disposition in a waterway.

Senate Bill 1793 carefully lays out requirements for how remains must be handled to ensure proper care of the cremated remains, rivers, and public spaces. The cremated remains must come from only one person, be spread over a large enough area to avoid the ashes accumulating, be scattered away from public areas, and contain no other material beyond the cremated ashes.

“Our laws should reflect both respect for grieving families and responsibility to our environment,” Ellman said. “By establishing clear guidelines for water scattering, we are honoring personal traditions while protecting the natural spaces that mean so much to our communities.”

 Senate Bill 1793 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.