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GA HB53

Georgia veterans; allow certain persons to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries


summary

Introduced
01/14/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
02/20/2025
Passed
04/07/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/13/2025

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia veterans cemeteries, so as to allow certain persons to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries; to provide for definitions; to provide for fees; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill expands eligibility for burial in Georgia veterans cemeteries by allowing certain reserve component members, their spouses, and children to be interred in these facilities. Specifically, the legislation allows members of reserve components (such as Army Reserve, National Guard, etc.) who completed a full term of service and died on or after August 1, 1990, to be buried in state veterans cemeteries, even if they were previously ineligible for national cemetery burial. The bill also defines key terms like "full term" of service and "reserve component," and authorizes the Department of Veterans Service to charge fees for burial services. The legislation is motivated by the federal Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021, which encourages states to provide burial options for reserve component members, and follows the lead of approximately 25 other states that have already revised their cemetery burial laws. The bill aims to honor Georgians who served in reserve components and their families by providing them with dignified burial options in state veterans cemeteries.

Committee Categories

Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Effective Date 2025-07-01 (on 05/13/2025)

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