The bill amends Chapter 30-25 of the General Laws, titled "Burial of Veterans," by adding a new section, 30-25-14.1, which establishes eligibility for burial in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery (RIMVC) for certain individuals, specifically Filipino and Hmong veterans who served honorably with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in support of the United States Armed Forces during the conflict in the Kingdom of Laos and surrounding regions from 1961 to 1975, commonly referred to as the "Secret War."

The bill recognizes the honorable service of these individuals, who have sustained heavy casualties and have been acknowledged by acts of the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the new eligibility criteria, any person who served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces and has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for burial in a national cemetery will also be deemed eligible for burial at the RIMVC, subject to all other applicable conditions and rules for interment.

The RIMVC is authorized to request a determination from the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding an individual's eligibility for burial in a national cemetery and may rely on that determination for ascertaining eligibility for burial at the RIMVC. Additionally, the RIMVC may establish eligibility by accepting the same evidence of service required by the Department of Veterans Affairs for interment in national veterans cemeteries. The bill clarifies that it does not expand burial eligibility beyond the categories recognized under federal law or jeopardize the state's receipt of federal funds or grants for the operation or maintenance of the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The act will take effect upon passage.