STAND. COM. REP. NO. 911

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1377

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1377, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, and assistance to ensure the cemeteries' compliance with federal standards.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services.

Your Committee finds that the cemetery compliance program administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has strict standards for the maintenance and upkeep of veterans' cemeteries. Your Committee believes that the Veterans Cemeteries Board established by this measure will help ensure that veterans cemeteries in Hawaii meet these strict standards by identifying challenges, seeking resources, and involving interested stakeholders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Veterans Cemeteries Board to submit an annual report to the Legislature; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive edits for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1377, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1377, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair