Cemeteries

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on funding beyond avoiding jeopardizing federal funds, leaving uncertainty about how costs will be covered.

Rules for Veterans' Cemeteries

This bill changes eligibility criteria and required documentation for interment in Tennessee's state veterans' cemeteries.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the eligibility criteria to include members of reserve components, army national guard, or air national guard who were honorably discharged after completing their service obligation excluding time served in individual ready reserve or inactive national guard.
• Requires the Department of Veterans Services to accept specific documents like NGB Form 22 and DD Form 214 for verifying eligibility.
• Prohibits interment in state veterans' cemeteries if it would be prohibited under federal law due to certain crimes.
• Ensures that spouses, minor children, and dependent incapacitated children of eligible veterans can also be buried based on federal law.
• Funds the Department of Veterans Services to provide free burial services for eligible individuals.

Who It Names or Affects

• Veterans who meet new eligibility criteria set by this bill.
• Members of reserve components, army national guard, or air national guard with at least eight years of honorable service.
• The Department of Veterans Services responsible for verifying and providing burial services.

Terms To Know

NGB Form 22

A document used by the National Guard Bureau to record a member's military service history.

DD Form 214

A discharge certificate issued by the Department of Defense that shows details about a veteran’s military service.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how it will be funded beyond stating the need to avoid jeopardizing federal funds.
• It is unclear when this bill will become law or what further steps are needed before implementation.
• Details about the exact financial impact on state budgets for future years are not fully detailed.

Official Summary Text

This bill provides that an individual is eligible for interment in a state veterans' cemetery if the individual either (i) meets the eligibility criteria set forth in federal law or (ii) was a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the Unit
ed States, the army national guard, or the air national guard who was discharged or released under honorable conditions and completed the term of service obligation for which the member was contracted, excluding time served in the individual ready reserve
o
r inactive national guard. However, this bill must not be implemented in a manner that jeopardizes the receipt of federal funds for the construction, expansion, or operation of state veterans' cemeteries.

In order to verify eligibility for such interment, this bill requires the department of veterans services to accept the following discharge or service-related documents:



NGB Form 22;


NGB Form 438 or 439;


DD Form 214;


DD Form 256, 256AF, or 257;


Most recent discharge orders issued by the appropriate service branch; and


Any other official documentation that satisfies the requirements for proof of service and character of discharge under federal regulations.

INELIGIBILITY DUE TO FEDERAL OR STATE CONVICTIONS

A person is not eligible for interment or memorialization in a state veterans' cemetery if such interment or memorialization is prohibited under federal law due to the person committing certain federal or state crimes.

INTERMENT OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS

For a person eligible for interment under this bill, this bill requires the eligibility for interment of the person's spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and dependent incapacitated child to be determined by federal law.

FEES PROHIBITED

This bill prohibits the department of veterans services from charging a fee for the interment of any of the following:



A veteran who is eligible for interment.


A member of a reserve component of the armed forces, including the army national guard or air national guard, who is eligible.


The most recent spouse of an individual who is eligible.


A minor child or dependent incapacitated child of such an individual who is eligible.

ON APRIL 7, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1888 FOR HOUSE BILL 1635, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL1888, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises the bill to clarify that an individual is eligible for interment in a state veterans' cemetery who was a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, the army national guard, or the air national guard who (
i) was discharged or released under honorable conditions; and (ii) served in a reserve component of the armed forces, the army national guard, or the air national guard honorably for at least eight years, collectively, or who was called up on state orders
i
rrespective of time honorably served; rather than an individual who was a member of a reserve unit, the army national guard, or the air national guard that completed the term of service obligation for which the member was contracted.

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #
1
.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1888
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 1635
By Lamberth
HB1635
010042
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 46,
Chapter 6, relative to state veterans' cemeteries.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 46-6-105, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead the following:
46-6-105. Eligibility for interment.
(a)
(1) An individual is eligible for interment in a state veterans' cemetery
who:
(A) Meets the eligibility criteria set forth in 38 U.S.C. § 2402; or
(B) Was a member of a reserve component of the armed forces
of the United States, the army national guard, or the air national guard
who:
(i) Was discharged or released under honorable
conditions; and
(ii) Completed the term of service obligation for which the
member was contracted, excluding time served in the individual
ready reserve or inactive national guard.
(2) For a person eligible under subdivision (a)(1)(B), the eligibility for
interment of the person's spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and dependent
incapacitated child shall be determined pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 2402.
(b) A person is not eligible for interment or memorialization in a state veterans'
cemetery if such interment or memorialization would be prohibited under 38 U.S.C. §

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2411. For purposes of verifying eligibility for interment under this chapter, the
department shall accept the following discharge or service-related documents:
(1) NGB Form 22;
(2) NGB Form 438 or 439;
(3) DD Form 214;
(4) DD Form 256, 256AF, or 257;
(5) Most recent discharge orders issued by the appropriate service
branch; and
(6) Any other official document that satisfies the requirements for proof of
service and character of discharge under 38 CFR 3.203.
(c) Nothing shall be implemented pursuant to this section in a manner that
jeopardizes the receipt of federal funds for the construction, expansion, or operation of
state veterans' cemeteries.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 46-6-107, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead the following:
46-6-107.
The department of veterans services shall not charge a fee for the interment of:
(1) A veteran who is eligible for interment under § 46-6-105(a)(1)(A);
(2) A member of a reserve component of the armed forces, including the
army national guard or air national guard, who is eligible under § 46-6-
105(a)(1)(B);
(3) The most recent spouse of an individual described in § 46-6-105(a);
or
(4) A minor child or dependent incapacitated child of such an individual,
as determined under § 46-6-105(a)(2).

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SECTION 3. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming law, the public welfare requiring it.