Committee extends state cemetery benefits to certain Hmong veterans (HB985)

The House veterans committee passed HB985, which clarifies eligibility language for state veterans cemeteries and adds a category of Laotian (Hmong) veterans who were recognized at the federal level for assisting U.S. forces in Vietnam.

The sponsor said the bill would add a group that aided U.S. efforts in Vietnam — the Hmong people — who were hired by the CIA and later recognized by the federal government for burial eligibility in federal military cemeteries. “This simply allows that benefit here at the state level for one of our state veteran cemeteries,” the sponsor said.

The sponsor estimated a national Hmong population of roughly 30,000 and about 3,000 in Georgia, noting only a handful would fall into the category of those who served in Vietnam. Committee members asked for the specific criteria for burial; staff from the Department of Veterans Services summarized eligibility as requiring an honorable or general discharge, residency in Georgia (about two and a half years), and other department criteria.

A member moved to pass HB985; it received a second and the committee voted to pass the bill. The transcript does not provide a numeric roll call.

The bill clarifies and extends benefits to a small group of veterans with federal recognition of service; the Department of Veterans Services will administer eligibility per existing criteria.