North Carolina HB 36: Maintenance of State Veterans Cemeteries.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 36

Short Title: Maintenance of State Veterans Cemeteries. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Wheatley and Penny (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
February 4, 2025
*H36-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS 2
TO ENHANCE OVERALL MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE'S VETERANS 3
CEMETERIES. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (hereafter 6
"Department") shall ensure that all four of the State's veterans cemeteries are staffed by 7
employees who are able to operate and maintain the cemeteries in a manner that honors the State's 8
veterans and their families. The Department shall identify and correct any issues at the State's 9
veterans cemeteries related to (i) undue delays in installing headstones, (ii) damage to headstones, 10
temporary markers, and graves caused by lawn equipment or vehicles, (iii) drainage and flooding 11
problems, (iv) scattered debris and other items, and (v) overall grounds appearance, including 12
bare patches due to lack of grass. In its efforts to comply with this section, the Department shall 13
permit auxiliary and active military groups and other fraternal organizations, including the 14
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the North Carolina National Guard, and the ROTC, to volunteer to 15
perform maintenance projects at the State's veterans cemeteries. 16
SECTION 1.(b) In order to better serve the families of our State's veterans, the 17
Department shall adjust its policies to accommodate family requests relating to funeral services. 18
The Department shall review its current policies and the reasons for those policies on the 19
following: (i) chapel only services, (ii) the time allotted for funeral services, (iii) the number of 20
attendees allowed to attend funeral services, and (iv) no visitation of grave sites while a funeral 21
is being held. 22
SECTION 2. By October 1, 2025, the Department shall submit a report of its findings 23
on (i) the issues set out in subsection (a) of Section 1 of this act and any changes made to address 24
those issues and (ii) any changes made to the policies listed in subsection (b) of Section 1 of this 25
act to the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General 26
Government. 27
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 28