House committee approves amendment to create special Marpi Public Cemetery fund under finance secretary

The House Committee on Ways and Means voted on a floor amendment and adopted a committee report recommending passage of House Bill 24-51, House Draft 1, which creates two revolving accounts for the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) and specifically establishes a Marpi Public Cemetery Fund to be set up by the secretary of finance.

Committee members, DLNR officials and agency staff discussed the bill after public testimony supporting the measure. Cameron Nicholas, special adviser to the DLNR secretary, told the committee: "I express my support for House Bill 24 dash 51. It's to establish revolving accounts under the Department of Lands and Natural Resources." DLNR staff from parks, lands registration and survey, and fish and wildlife also testified in favor of establishing the accounts so the divisions can collect and retain fees to cover costs such as cemetery maintenance and land registration services.

Why it matters: The bill responds to a practical funding gap…