EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0085*
SENATE BILL 85
P1 5lr0740
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 455
By: Senators Simonaire and M. Jackson
Requested: September 2, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 9, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Veterans and Military Families to 3
designate a location for an American braille tactile flag to be placed on the grounds 4
of one or more State veterans’ cemeteries; and generally relating to State veterans’ 5
cemeteries and American braille tactile flags. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – State Government 8
Section 9–906(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – State Government 13
Section 9–906(b) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – State Government 18
Section 9–906(j) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21 2 SENATE BILL 85
Preamble 1
WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 2
approximately 130,000 blind veterans in the United States who are legally blind, and more 3
than one million who have low vision that causes a loss of ability to perform necessary daily 4
activities; and 5
WHEREAS, The American braille tactile flag was created by the Kansas Braille 6
Transcription Institute in Wichita, Kansas, and through the American Braille Flag Project, 7
to allow blind Americans and blind veterans to experience the American flag; and 8
WHEREAS, Maryland has five State veterans’ cemeteries visited by thousands of 9
people annually; and 10
WHEREAS, The State of Maryland is known as a state that recognizes the great 11
contributions of our blind community and honors the dedication of our uniformed services 12
members and veterans; now, therefore, 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – State Government 16
9–906. 17
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
(2) “AMERICAN BRAILLE TACT ILE FLAG” MEANS A TACTILE FLAG 19
DESIGNED TO ALLOW BL IND PEOPLE TO EXPERI ENCE THE AMERICAN FLAG , 20
INCLUDING A FLAG CRE ATED BY THE KANSAS BRAILLE TRANSCRIPTION INSTITUTE. 21
(3) “Eligible dependent” means: 22
(i) a child who meets the requirements stated in 38 C.F.R. § 23
38.620(e); or 24
(ii) a parent who meets the requirements stated in 38 C.F.R. § 25
38.620(i). 26
[(3)] (4) “Eligible spouse” means a spouse who meets the requirements 27
stated in 38 C.F.R. § 38.620(e). 28
[(4)] (5) “State veterans’ cemetery” means a cemetery that the 29
Department establishes under this section. 30
SENATE BILL 85 3
[(5)] (6) In this section and in § 9–907 of this subtitle, “veteran” means 1
an individual who: 2
(i) served other than dishonorably on active duty in the armed 3
forces of the United States; or 4
(ii) served other than dishonorably as a member of the State militia 5
ordered into active service of the United States by order of the President and was killed in 6
the line of duty. 7
[(6)] (7) “Washington Cemetery” means the Civil War cemetery grounds 8
authorized by Chapter 213 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1870. 9
(b) The Department may establish one or more cemeteries in the State for the 10
burial of veterans and their eligible spouse or dependents as authorized by the Secretary. 11
(J) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESI GNATE A LOCATION FOR AN AMERICAN 12
BRAILLE TACTILE FLAG TO BE PLACED IN ONE OR MORE STATE VETERANS ’ 13
CEMETERIES AS AUTHOR IZED BY THE SECRETARY TO HONOR ME MBERS OF THE 14
UNIFORMED SERVICES , VETERANS, AND OTHER INDIVIDUAL S IN THE STATE WHO 15
ARE BLIND OR VISUALL Y IMPAIRED. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2025. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.