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Senate bill · S1009 (2025-26)

Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family member who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state…

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Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family member who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action May 28, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A408, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

Samra Brouk

State Senator, District 55 · Democratic/Working Families

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Summary

Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Veterans' Service Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 30, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To allow for a close friend to sign for a veteran's burial rights in a cemetery in certain circumstances.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs · New York State Senate

Also referred to Veterans' Affairs · New York State Assembly.

Cosponsors

Chris Burdick, Dan Stec and 6 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Republican5
  • Democratic3

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

Many veterans wish to be buried in Veteran Memorial Cemeteries. In a case where a veteran has no living family or no family is known or can be found, the deceased veteran will have no "next of kin" available to sign off on paper work as it pertains to burial rights. This bill would allow for, in certain circumstances, a friend or neighbor to sign off for a veteran's burial rights when no next of kin is available. This issue was brought up when an Ontario County Veteran passed away, with no surviving family to sign off on his burial rights. A friend of the veteran was informed prior to the death, that the veteran wished to be buried at the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Due to the language of the law, this veteran could not be buried at the facility. This dilemma is one faced in many counties across New York State. This legislation will correct this predicament.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMay 28, 2026Result: passed

    (60) (0) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs

    Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military AffairsMar 17, 2026Result: passed

    (9) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 5, 2025Result: passed

    (60) (0) (0) (3)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs

    Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military AffairsMay 28, 2025Result: passed

    (9) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. May 28, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. May 28, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. May 28, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

    NY Assembly

  4. Mar 19, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  5. Mar 18, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

Show full history (12 earlier events)
  1. Mar 17, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.553

    1ST REPORT CAL.553

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

    NY Senate

  4. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

    NY Assembly

  5. Jun 5, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  6. Jun 5, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  7. Jun 5, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

    NY Assembly

  8. Jun 4, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  9. May 29, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  10. May 28, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.1367

    1ST REPORT CAL.1367

    NY Senate

  11. Jan 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

    NY Senate

  12. Jan 8, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS

    NY Assembly