HF 3532
1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 04/09/2026 04:37 p.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to veterans; modifying eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 197.236, subdivisions 8,
9.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 197.236, subdivision 8, is amended
to read:
Subd. 8.
Eligibility.
new text begin (a) new text end Cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of new text begin the following
persons:
new text end
new text begin (1) new text end service members who die on active duty, eligible veterans, and deleted text begin their spouses and
dependent children,deleted text end new text begin other personsnew text end as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 2402,
paragraph (a), subparagraphs 1 to deleted text begin 5deleted text end new text begin 4, 7,new text end and deleted text begin 7.deleted text end new text begin 10;
new text end
new text begin
(2) members of a reserve component of the armed forces and any member of the Army
National Guard or the Air National Guard if:
new text end
new text begin
(i) the member completed at least one full term of service and the member received an
honorable discharge; or
new text end
new text begin
(ii) the member's death occurs while a member in good standing with the member's
assigned component and was not due to the member's willful misconduct; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) spouses, surviving spouses, minor children, or unmarried adult children of a person
as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 2402, paragraph (a), subparagraphs 1 to
4 and 7, or clause (2). For purposes of this section:
new text end
new text begin
(i) a "surviving spouse" includes a surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage;
new text end
new text begin
(ii) a "minor child" means an unmarried child under 21 years of age, or under 23 years
of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution;
and
new text end
new text begin
(iii) an "unmarried adult child" means a child who became permanently physically or
mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years of age, or before
reaching 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved
educational institution.
new text end
new text begin
(b) For purposes of this section, an honorable discharge does not include a general (under
honorable conditions) characterization of service.
new text end
new text begin
(c) For purposes of this section, "willful misconduct" means an act involving conscious
wrongdoing or known prohibited action as described in United States Code, title 38, section
3.1, paragraph (n).
new text end
new text begin
(d) Applicants with convictions under United States Code, title 18, section 704, are not
eligible for burial in state veterans cemeteries. By January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall
establish a process to verify that applicants for burial have not been convicted of stolen
valor.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 197.236, subdivision 9, is amended
to read:
Subd. 9.
Burial fees.
(a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall establish a fee
schedule, which may be adjusted from time to time, for the interment of deleted text begin eligible spouses
and dependent childrendeleted text end new text begin qualified persons under subdivision 8, paragraph (a), clauses (2)
and (3)new text end . The fees shall cover as nearly as practicable the actual costs of intermentdeleted text begin , excluding
the value of the plotdeleted text end .
(b) Upon application, the commissioner may waive or reduce the burial fee for an indigent
eligible person. The commissioner shall maintain a policy, eligibility standards, and
application form for requests to waive or reduce the burial fee to indigent eligible applicants.
(c) No plot or interment fees may be charged for the burial of service members who die
on active duty or eligible veterans, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 2402,
paragraph (a), subparagraphs 1 to 4 and 7.