Free land gift expands burial capacity at Dayton National Cemetery

What it does

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept a free transfer of approximately 58 acres of land in Dayton, Ohio, from the Montgomery County Land Bank. The land, located across from Dayton National Cemetery, is intended to expand the cemetery. The VA has 30 days to begin negotiations once the Land Bank offers the transfer, and must complete the acquisition within three years. The transfer is at no cost to the federal government.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is authorization of a free land transfer to expand burial capacity at a national cemetery. It is a straightforward public-benefit measure with no hidden provisions or private carve-outs.

What the text implies

• The three-year completion window creates a soft deadline; if VA does not accept within that period, the offer lapses and the land remains with the Land Bank, potentially limiting expansion if circumstances change.
• The bill does not specify funding for cemetery improvements, maintenance, or burial operations on the expanded land—those costs would fall to VA appropriations and may not be explicitly budgeted.
• The restriction to the Montgomery County Land Bank (subsection c) prevents the VA from negotiating with other potential donors or land sources in the area, locking in this single transaction.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Veterans and their families gain expanded burial capacity at a national cemetery at no cost to taxpayers. The bill imposes no restrictions on citizens' rights or remedies and creates a straightforward public benefit through intergovernmental land transfer.

Named in the bill

Department of Veterans Affairs, Montgomery County Land Bank, Dayton National Cemetery, Montgomery County, Ohio

Where it stands

• Mar 14, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 14, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs”
• Feb 3, 2026 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
• Mar 26, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.