Panel advances bill expanding interment eligibility at state veterans cemeteries, MDVA warns of capacity impacts

The House Veterans Division voted to recommend House File 35‑32, as amended, to the General Register after testimony from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs that the bill expands interment eligibility at the state's four veterans cemeteries and authorizes the commissioner to set a fee schedule to offset burial costs.

David Swiatek, director of memorial affairs for MDVA, told the division the amendment clarifies eligibility for honorably discharged members of the Minnesota National Guard and other reserve components and their eligible dependents. He said the department expects about half of additional interments would occur at the State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls because of its proximity to Camp Ripley, and that Little Falls already accounts for a large share of statewide interments.

"Based on our estimates, the increased demand associated with this legislation could reduce that timeline to approximately 30 years, an acceleration of 18 years," Swiatek said, describing the effects on both developed and undeveloped gravesites and saying MDVA likely will return to the committee for funding and long‑term capacity planning.

Vice Chair Olsen and other supporters said the amendment and the bill were developed in collaboration with MDVA and recommended sending the amended bill to the General Register for further consideration. The division adopted the D E 2 amendment by voice vote and then voted to re‑refer the amended bill to the General Register.

MDVA also noted the bill authorizes a fee schedule that the commissioner may establish to help offset burial costs; the department emphasized administrative clarity and fiscal support in the amended language.