All Roll Calls
Yes: 381 • No: 0
GeorgiaHB 532025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
Georgia veterans; allow certain persons to be buried in Georgia veterans cemeteries
Sponsored By: Bethany Ballard (Republican), Josh Bonner (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), David Clark (Republican), Noelle Kahaian (Republican), Brian Prince (Democrat)
Became Law
Defense & Veterans AffairsVeterans, Military, and Homeland SecurityGeneral Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Burial access for Guard, Reserve, families
Georgia veterans cemeteries allow burial for more people. Members of the National Guard or other reserve components qualify if they completed a full term. Their service must have ended under honorable conditions, and they must have died on or after August 1, 1990. ROTC members who died under honorable conditions while a service member qualify. Spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children of these members can also be buried. People who meet national cemetery interment rules also qualify.
State can build and run veterans cemeteries
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service can establish, operate, and maintain state veterans cemeteries. The cemetery in place on July 1, 2002, is named the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery. This authority helps the state add and manage burial sites.
New burial fees at state veterans cemeteries
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service can charge a fee for each burial in a state veterans cemetery. The fee may match the national cemetery burial allowance or another amount set by the commissioner. Families or others who handle burial costs may have to pay this fee.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Bethany Ballard
Republican • House
Josh Bonner
Republican • House
Chas Cannon
Republican • House
David Clark
Republican • House
Noelle Kahaian
Republican • House
Brian Prince
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
Rick Williams
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/27/2025
Agree to Senate Substitute
Yes: 163 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/25/2025
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE
Yes: 54 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 164 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/13/2025HouseAct 179
5/13/2025House Sent to Governor
4/7/2025HouseHouse Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
3/27/2025HouseSenate Third Read
3/25/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/25/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
3/21/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/20/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/21/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
2/20/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
2/20/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/12/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
1/16/2025HouseHouse First Readers
1/15/2025HouseHouse Hopper
1/14/2025House
Bill Text
HB 53/AP* (v5)
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