Georgia veterans; allow certain persons to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries
Summary
HB 53 amends Georgia law governing state veterans cemeteries to expand burial eligibility. In addition to those already eligible under federal national cemetery rules, the bill specifically allows certain members of the military reserve components, certain ROTC members, and their eligible family members to be interred in Georgia veterans cemeteries if they completed a full term of service and, in most cases, died on or after August 1, 1990. The bill defines “reserve component” to include the National Guard and the reserve branches of the armed forces.
The bill also authorizes the Department of Veterans Service to charge burial fees for interments in Georgia veterans cemeteries. Those fees may be tied to the federal burial allowance for eligible veterans in national cemeteries or set at another amount the commissioner determines appropriate. The legislation includes findings explaining that federal law now permits states to broaden eligibility for state veterans cemeteries without risking federal burial grant funding, and it notes that other states have already updated their laws in response to the federal Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021.
Impact
HB 53 changes Code Section 38-4-70 in Title 38, Chapter 4, Part 3, which governs Georgia veterans cemeteries and eligibility for interment. It expands the class of persons who may be buried in state veterans cemeteries, including qualifying reserve component members, certain ROTC members, and spouses and children of those service members, and it gives the Department of Veterans Service express authority to assess burial fees. The bill is intended to align Georgia law with federal burial equity rules while preserving eligibility for federal cemetery-related grants.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and was approved unanimously in both chambers, with 164-0 in the House, 54-0 in the Senate on passage by substitute, and 163-0 in the House agreeing to the Senate substitute. The legislative findings frame the measure as a recognition of service and a practical update to state law in light of federal changes. The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history is strongly favorable and noncontroversial.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available record, and there were no committee transcripts provided showing debate. The only potentially sensitive policy issues are the expansion of burial eligibility beyond traditional veteran categories and the authorization for the Department of Veterans Service to charge fees for burial services. Even so, the unanimous votes suggest these issues did not generate significant contention among lawmakers.
Requires DVA notify certain veteran organizations and county officers and municipal registers of names of persons buried or cremated in State veteran cemeteries.