EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0237*
SENATE BILL 237
P1 5lr0103
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 138
By: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Veterans and Military Families)
Requested: September 30, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Government – Veterans – Burial at State Veterans’ Cemeteries 2
(Burial Equity Act) 3
FOR the purpose of expanding eligibility for burial in a State veterans’ cemetery to include 4
members of the National Guard and the military reserves; removing the residency 5
requirement for certain veterans for burial in a State veterans’ cemetery; 6
establishing a burial fee for National Guard and military reserves service members 7
and their eligible dependents; and generally relating to burial at State veterans’ 8
cemeteries. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – State Government 11
Section 9–906(a), (f), and (i) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – State Government 17
9–906. 18
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
(2) “Eligible dependent” means: 20
(i) a child who meets the requirements stated in 38 C.F.R. § 21
38.620(e); or 22 2 SENATE BILL 237
(ii) a parent who meets the requirements stated in 38 C.F.R. § 1
38.620(i). 2
(3) “Eligible spouse” means a spouse who meets the requirements stated in 3
38 C.F.R. § 38.620(e). 4
(4) “State veterans’ cemetery” means a cemetery that the Department 5
establishes under this section. 6
(5) In this section and in § 9–907 of this subtitle, “veteran” means an 7
individual who: 8
(i) served other than dishonorably on active duty in the armed 9
forces of the United States; [or] 10
(ii) served other than dishonorably as a FULL–TIME member of the 11
[State militia ordered into active service of the United States by order of the President and 12
was killed in the line of duty] COMMISSIONED CORPS OF THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH 13
SERVICE OR THE COMMISSIONED CORPS OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 14
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ; OR 15
(III) SERVED OTHER THAN DI SHONORABLY AND COMPL ETED 16
THE INDIVIDUAL ’S CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATI ON OF SERVICE AS A M EMBER OF THE 17
NATIONAL GUARD OR THE MILITARY RESERVES . 18
(6) “Washington Cemetery” means the Civil War cemetery grounds 19
authorized by Chapter 213 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1870. 20
(f) To qualify for a plot in a State veterans’ cemetery: 21
(1) the applicant must be a veteran who meets the requirements for burial 22
at a national veterans’ cemetery or an eligible spouse or dependent of a veteran who meets 23
the requirements of this subsection; and 24
(2) if a veteran[, the veteran] IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD 25
OR THE MILITARY RESERVES , THE MEMBER must also have been a resident of the State: 26
(i) when the [veteran] MEMBER entered the armed forces; 27
(ii) when the [veteran] MEMBER died; or 28
(iii) for 2 years, unless, for a reason that the Department finds 29
compelling, the Department waives the time period. 30
SENATE BILL 237 3
(i) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 1
SUBSECTION, THE Department [shall bury the] MAY NOT CHARGE A veteran or eligible 2
spouse or dependent [without charge] FOR BURIAL. 3
(2) IF THE INDIVIDUAL BEI NG BURIED IS A MEMBE R OF THE 4
NATIONAL GUARD OR THE MILITARY RESERVES OR THE INDIVIDUAL ’S ELIGIBLE 5
DEPENDENT , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLL ECT AT THE TIME OF B URIAL A FEE 6
EQUAL TO THE ANNUAL PLOT ALLOWANCE ESTAB LISHED BY THE NATIONAL 7
CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION . 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act s hall take effect July 9
1, 2025. 10