HB581 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randy Davis
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Harry Shiver Duwayne Bridges
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Veterans' Affairs Department, veterans' cemeteries, ownership of land by department, Sec. 31-5-3 am'd
Summary: HB581 lets the Department of Veterans' Affairs own veterans' cemeteries, authorizes the State Service Commissioner to sign deeds for the department, and retroactively ratifies prior cemetery deeds.
What This Bill Does
The department would own veterans' cemeteries and manage related land and funds. It can receive land and money from federal grants, state subdivisions, private donations, and federal plot allowances, with all funds going into the Veterans' Assistance Fund for cemetery establishment, operation, and maintenance. Deeds for cemetery land can be executed for the department by the State Service Commissioner, and earlier deeds are ratified to align with this change. The bill also restates and adjusts how the State Board of Veterans' Affairs governs the department, including rules, representation, and diversity requirements.

Who It Affects
Veterans and their families, who would see cemeteries owned by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and funded for ongoing maintenance and operation, and who may be affected by changes in governance and funding sources.
State agencies and veterans organizations, which would follow new board representation rules, rule-making powers, and the process for approving deeds and accepting land and funds.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 31-5-3 to allow the Department of Veterans' Affairs to own the state veterans' cemeteries.
Gives the State Service Commissioner authority to execute deeds and other instruments for the department related to cemetery land.
Retroactively ratifies prior cemetery deeds to conform with the act.
Allows the department to establish and operate a state veterans' cemetery and accept funds and land from federal, state, private, and other sources, with all funds deposited into the Veterans' Assistance Fund and used only for cemetery purposes.
Reforms the State Board of Veterans' Affairs: sets representation based on member organizations' size, requires three nominees per seat, ensures inclusion of veterans from wars represented in the organizations, and enforces diversity; grants the board rule-making powers for the department.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Veterans