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 (RIVMC) for certain individuals who served honorably in Hmong Laotian special guerrilla units or irregular forces during the "Secret War" from 1961 to 1975. These individuals, who fought alongside U.S. military personnel and sustained heavy casualties, have been recognized for their service by acts of the U.S. Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To be deemed eligible for burial at the RIVMC, individuals must have been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be eligible for burial in a national cemetery under 38 U.S.C. 2402(a)(10). The RIVMC may request a determination from the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding an individual's eligibility and may rely on that determination for ascertaining eligibility for burial at the RIVMC.

The bill also allows the RIVMC to establish eligibility by accepting the same evidence of service that the Department of Veterans Affairs requires for interment in national veterans cemeteries. Furthermore, it clarifies that nothing in this section shall be construed to expand eligibility for burial beyond those categories recognized under federal law or to 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.