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Senate Government Operations Committee prepares to vote on cemetery vandalism response fund after clarifications
Summary
The Senate Committee on Government Operations advanced discussion of S.275 on March 13, 2026, a bill to create a cemetery vandalism response fund funded by a $5 contribution tied to burials; lawmakers and witnesses agreed to edits on notice, eligibility and home‑burial exemptions and planned a short recess to allow staff to incorporate changes before a vote.
The Senate Committee on Government Operations heard testimony March 13 on S.275, legislation that would create a cemetery vandalism response fund supported by a $5 contribution associated with burials and cremations. The committee’s chair said he intended to move the bill out of committee the same day, but members and witnesses asked for clarifications on eligibility, notice requirements and collection mechanics before a vote.
Marshfield Town Clerk Bobby Brimblecom told the committee he and fellow clerks were “not in favor of the bill the way it's written,” saying it could impose an extra fee on families while simultaneously limiting towns’ ability to access grants. “We would be asking families to pay an additional fee for every burial, but then I'm not sure that it would be funds that we would ever be able to access,” Brimblecom said, citing language in the draft that requires an applicant to state it has “no available funds.”
The sponsor responded that…
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