Eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries modified.

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.

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(a)
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Cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of
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the following

persons:
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(1)
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service members who die on active duty, eligible veterans, and
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their spouses and

dependent children,
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other persons
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as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 2402,

paragraph (a), subparagraphs 1 to
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5
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4, 7,
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and
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7.
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10;
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(2) members of a reserve component of the armed forces and any member of the Army

National Guard or the Air National Guard if:

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(i) the member completed at least one full term of service and the member received an

honorable discharge; or

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(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

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(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:

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(i) a "surviving spouse" includes a surviving spouse who had a subsequent remarriage;

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(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

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(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.

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(b) For purposes of this section, an honorable discharge does not include a general (under

honorable conditions) characterization of service.

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(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).

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(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.

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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
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eligible spouses

and dependent children
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qualified persons under subdivision 8, paragraph (a), clauses (2)

and (3)
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. The fees shall cover as nearly as practicable the actual costs of interment
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, excluding

the value of the plot
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.

(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.