Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1635: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 46, Chapter 6, relative to state veterans' cemeteries.
Status: Chaptered, May 5, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESGeneral FundFY26-27$19,500FY27-28 $30,100FY28-29 & Subsequent Years$42,100 Bill Summary 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 United 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 or 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 b
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB1635 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1888 House Bill No. 1635* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: 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 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) Served in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, the army national guard, or the air national guard honorably for not less than eight (8) years, collectively, or who was called up on state orders irrespective of time honorably served. (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 must be determined pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 2402. HA0737 (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. § 2411. For purposes of verifying eligibility …