A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for the election and qualifications of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Kauffman and 7 co-sponsors

State veterans cemeteries may sell monuments, memorials, trees, benches to honor interred individuals, with proceeds used for cemetery care.

Referred to State Government

HB 703 — Memorials in Veterans Cemeteries (North Carolina)

Summary
This bill (adds G.S. § 65‑43.7) authorizes State veterans cemeteries in North Carolina to offer monuments and memorials for sale to honor persons interred in those cemeteries. The sales are intended to permit families and others to place commemorative items (other than government-issued headstones) on cemetery grounds, and to direct the proceeds to cemetery care.

Key provisions
- Sale authorized: State veterans cemeteries “shall make available for purchase” monuments and memorials honoring those interred in the cemetery.
- What counts as a “monument or memorial”: explicitly includes memorial trees, granite or marble markers, and granite or marble benches. The statute expressly excludes headstones.
- Design standards: Cemeteries may require that items sold meet the cemetery’s stylistic guidelines or requirements, but may not adopt rules that effectively prohibit such sales.
- Pricing: Cemeteries must not charge more than the market rate for monuments and memorials sold under this authority.
- Use of proceeds: Revenue from these sales is retained by the State veterans cemetery that sold the item and must be used solely for maintaining, improving, or caring for that cemetery.

Who is affected
- Primary: State veterans cemeteries (administration, procurement, and grounds staff) — they gain authority and responsibility to offer commemorative items, set reasonable guidelines, handle sales and accounting, and use proceeds for cemetery care.
- Secondary: Veterans’ families, friends, and other purchasers — will have an on‑site (or cemetery‑facilitated) option to acquire memorial items consistent with cemetery standards.
- State budget: The bill directs proceeds to be retained at the cemetery level; it does not create a general fund revenue stream.

Procedural/timeline information
- Introduced and docketed in 2025 (referred to relevant committees).
- The bill text specifies an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Potential impacts and implementation notes
- Administrative: Cemeteries will need processes for procurement or contracting, pricing at market rate, recordkeeping, and restricted use of proceeds for cemetery care.
- Operational: Establishing stylistic standards and a market‑rate pricing methodology will be necessary; rulemaking or internal policy updates may be required.
- Fiscal: No direct statewide fiscal impact is specified; proceeds remain with the selling cemetery to support maintenance and improvements.

This summary reflects the statutory language added by HB 703 (G.S. § 65‑43.7) and the bill’s stated effective date.