Rep. Shepard files bill in North Carolina House to regulate veterans cemetery memorial sales

A new bill filed by State Rep. Phil Shepard in the North Carolina House seeks to ensure veterans cemeteries provide affordable memorial options while directing proceeds toward cemetery upkeep, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 703 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Memorials in Veterans Cemeteries.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that state veterans cemeteries in North Carolina offer for sale monuments and memorials to honor those interred, including items such as memorial trees, granite or marble markers, and benches, but excluding headstones. The cemeteries may set stylistic guidelines but cannot prohibit such sales. Prices for these monuments and memorials cannot exceed market rates, and proceeds must be used exclusively for maintenance, improvements, or care of the selling cemetery. The bill takes effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Diane Wheatley proposed the most bills (29) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Shepard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2011 to represent the state’s 15th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Grady.