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MarylandHB 03642026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

State Veterans' Cemeteries - Interment

Sponsored By: Nicholaus R. Kipke (Republican)

Signed by Governor

State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsBusiness RegulationHealth OccupationsCemeteriesCommerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc.Prices -see also- Consumer Price IndexVeterans and Military Families, Department ofVeterans

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Free veterans burial; fee for some reservists

Starting Oct 1, 2026, eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents get a grave plot or columbarium niche in a State veterans’ cemetery at no charge. The Department also provides an outer burial receptacle or a niche and a marker at no cost. The law clarifies that an interment location can be a grave plot or a niche. Qualified reserve members who do not meet national cemetery rules must have Maryland ties (resident at entry, at death, or for 2 years unless waived). For those reserve members and their eligible family, a fee equal to the National Cemetery Administration’s annual interment location allowance is due at interment. The Department keeps a registry of all interment locations to help families find graves and niches.

Find and honor unclaimed veteran remains

Starting Oct 1, 2026, if cremains or hydrolyzed remains are unclaimed for 90 days, funeral homes and crematories must give identifying information to a veterans service organization. For natural organic reduction, the facility must share identifying information within 5 business days after the process starts, unless the authorizing agent directs otherwise or the person clearly is not eligible. The veterans service organization must reply within 45 days to confirm veteran or dependent status and cemetery eligibility. If confirmed, the provider may transfer the remains to the veterans service organization. If the organization does not take them within 10 days, the provider must notify and transfer them to the Department of Veterans and Military Families. For soil remains, up to 300 cubic inches may go to a veterans service organization, with any authorized balance going to a cemetery or protected woodland owner; if declined within 10 days, that portion goes to the Department.

New cremation and reduction records

Starting Oct 1, 2026, crematories and funeral homes must keep a file for every cremation and every alkaline hydrolysis or natural organic reduction they start. The file must include the next of kin or responsible person’s signature, the time of death, and the date and time of the cremation or the start of the reduction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nicholaus R. Kipke

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 174 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 46 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 128 • No: 0 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 496

    5/12/2026

  2. Returned Passed

    4/7/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (46-0)

    4/6/2026Senate

  4. Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

    3/31/2026Senate

  5. Favorable Report by Finance

    3/30/2026Senate

  6. Referred Finance

    3/5/2026Senate

  7. Third Reading Passed (128-0)

    3/4/2026House

  8. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/3/2026House

  9. Favorable with Amendments {283527/1 Adopted

    3/3/2026House

  10. Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

    3/2/2026House

  11. Hearing 1/27 at 2:00 p.m.

    1/21/2026House

  12. First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections

    1/19/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/12/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/19/2026

    PDF

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