- January 29, 2018
Our firm is committed to serving veterans. As a veteran himself, Steven Jackson is adamant about legislative solutions to the issues veterans face in Arizona, and is passionate about making Arizona a veteran friendly state. The legislation described below is a list of relevant legislation that impacts veterans in the State of Arizona, introduced in 2018. We’ve included the sponsors of each proposal, a description of the legislation, and links to the legislation so you can track it if interested. If there is other noteworthy Arizona specific legislation you think should be included, please contact our firm. We strongly urge all Arizona veterans and citizens to exercise their rights as citizens and contact their representatives regarding any issues important to them.
To find out who your representative is, or to contact your representative, see this link: https://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp
Sponsors: Rep. Mark Cardenas (D), Rep. Richard Andrade (D), Rep. Wenona Benally (D), Rep. Reginald Bolding (D), Rep. Rosanna Gabaldon (D), Rep. Charlene Fernandez (D), Rep. Diego Espinoza (D), Rep. Cesar Chavez (D), Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Otoniel Navarette (D), Rep. Kevin Payne (R), Rep. Geraldine Peten (D).
Description: This bill would change the exemption for the Vehicle License Tax. Currently, veterans having a 100% disability and drawing compensation on that basis receive an exemption. The bill would allow for veterans with at least a 40% disability resulting from a lower limb amputation to receive the exemption from the vehicle license tax.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70316
Sponsors: Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Richard Andrade (D), Rep. Reginald Bolding (D), Rep. Russell Bowers (R), Rep. Cesar Chavez (D), Rep. Todd Clodfelter (R), Rep. David Cook (R), Rep. Kirsten Engel (D), Rep. Rosanna Gabaldon (D), Rep. Drew John (R), Rep. Jay Lawrence (R), Rep. Tony Rivero (R), Rep. Ben Toma (R), Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R).
Description: The bill requires the presiding judge in each county to establish a veterans court and a mental health court if one is not established already. It also requires each presiding judge to establish criteria for referral and includes language for a mandatory referral in certain situations. Additional language allows for suspended prosecution during a deferred prosecution program for certain offenses, with dismissal of charges upon successful completion of a deferred prosecution program.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70008
Sponsor: Rep. Heather Carter (R)
Description: The bill extends the Military Family Relief Fund, administered by the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, out until 2026 from 2018. The bill establishes subaccounts and advisory committees for the use of funds for pre and post 9/11 era service members and veterans. It also directs that the advisory committees review applications, and establish criteria for the use of money and form of applications. Further, the bill establishes some basic criteria for families seeking financial assistance form the pre and post 9/11 accounts. For donations, the bill allows that donors can designate a subaccount for their donations.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/69947
Senate Sponsors- Sen. Katie Hobbs (D), Sen. Sean Bowie (D), Sen. David Bradley (D), Sen. Lupe Contreras (D), Sen. Andrea Delassandro (D), Sen. Steve Farley (D), Sen. Juan Mendez (D), Sen. Catherine Miranda (D), Sen. Lisa Otondo (D), Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai (D), Sen. Martin Quezada (D).
House Sponsors – Rep. Rebecca Rios (D), Rep. Lela Alston (D), Rep. Richard Andrade (D), Rep. Reginald Bolding (D), Rep. Ken Clark (D), Rep. Eric Descheenie (D), Rep. Charlene Fernandez (D), Rep. Randall Friese (D), Rep. Otoniel Navarette (D), Rep. Pamela Hannley (D), Rep. Athena Salman (D), Sen. David Bradley (D), Sen. Steve Farley (D), Sen. Katie Hobbs (D), Sen. Martin Quezada (D).
Description- Competing Bills were introduced in each chamber that provided protections in employment, labor, and residency for gender identity, sexual orientation and veteran status. The bills, related to civil rights, prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status.
Senate Bill: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70450
House Bill: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70428
Sponsors: Sen. Steve Farley (D), Sen. Katie Hobbs (D), Sen. Richard Andrade (D)
Description: The bill directs that the Department of Veteran’s Services shall establish the Arizona Veterans’ Outdoor Behavioral Health Grant Program for eligible partnerships to provide outdoor behavioral health opportunities, and defines eligible programs. The legislation establishes a sunset of July 1, 2028.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70267
Sponsors: Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R), Sen. Sylvia Allen (R), Sen. Sean Bowie (D), Sen. Judy Burges (R), Rep. Karen Fann (R), Sen. David Farnsworth (R), Sen. Sine Kerr (R), Rep. Russell Bowers (R), Rep. Noel Campbell (R), Rep. Mark Cardenas (D), Rep. David Cook (R), Rep. Mark Finchem (R), Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Becky Nutt (R), Sen. Don Shooter (R), Rep. Bob Thorpe (R).
Description: The bill adds to a statute that allows for a tuition waiver to those children or dependents of a veteran killed in the line of duty. The proposed bill provides for a tuition waiver for children of veterans with a disability rating of 30% or more to a college governed by the Arizona Board of Regents or a community college, so long as the child or dependent is 30 years of age or younger and does not have more than 64 credits at any institution.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/69851
Sponsors Rep. Diego Espinoza (D), Rep. Richard Andrade (D), Rep. Wenona Benally (D), Rep. Reginald Bolding (D), Rep. Mark Cardenas (D), Rep. Ken Clark (D), Rep. Charlene Fernandez (D), Rep. Randal Friese (D), Rep. Otoniel Navarette (D), Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Athena Salman (D), Rep. Rosanna Gabaldon (D), Rep. Sally Gonzales (D), Rep. Pamela Hannley (D), Rep. Macario Saldate (D).
Description: The bill provides procurement preferences for veteran owned businesses and Arizona owned businesses for some Arizona state contracts and provides definitions for those qualifying organizations.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70255
Sponsor: Sen. Martin Quezada
Description: The bill provides for the use of a valid veterans administration health identification card in obtaining a ballot.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/69944
HB230 Sponsors: Rep. Russell Bowers (R), Rep. Drew John (R), Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Michelle Udall (R), Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R), Rep. Franlin Pratt (R).
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70090
SB1253 Sponsors: Sen. Gail Griffin (R), Sen. Sylvia Allen (R), Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R), Sen. Lupe
Contreras (D), Rep. Karen Fann (R), Sen. Lisa Otondo (D), Rep. Franklin Pratt (R), Rep. Russell Bowers (R).
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70360
Description: The bills state that the commission may reduce or waive fees for hunting and fishing licensing for any veteran with a service connected disability.
Sponsors: Sen. Andrea Dalessandro (D), Sen. Sean Bowie (D), Sen. David Bradley (D), Sen. Steve Farley (D), Sen. Katie Hobbs (D), Sen. Juan Mendez (D), Sen. Robert Meza (D), Sen. Catherine Miranda (D), Sen. Lisa Otondo (D), Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai (D), Sen. Martin Quezada (D)
Description: The bill would set the application fee for a veteran registering as a Medicinal Marijuana patient at $75.00, a reduced rate from the normal fees associated with qualifying.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70427
Sponsors: Rep. Gail Griffin (R), Sen. Sylvia Allen (R), Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R), Sen. David Bradley (D), Sen. Judy Burges (R), Rep. Karen Fann (R), Sen. John Kavanagh (R), Sen. Sine Kerr (R), Rep. Franklin Pratt (R), Sen. Steve Smith (R), Sen. Bob Worsley (R), Sen. Steven Yarbrough (R), Sen. Kimberly Yee (R), Rep. Mark Finchem (R), Rep. David Livingston (R), Rep. Becky Nutt (R), Rep. Ben Toma (R).
Description: The proposed bill would provide for a reduction in Arizona Gross income for retired veterans, at $2,500 through December 31, 2017, at $6,250 for the year 2018, and jumping to $10,000 beginning January 1, 2019.
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/70222
Sponsors: Rep. Diego Espinoza (D), Rep. Lela Alston (D), Rep. Richard Andrade (D), Rep. Wenona Benally (D), Rep. Isela Blanc (D), Rep. Reginald Bolding (D), Rep. Kelli Butler (D), Rep. Noel Campbell (R), Rep. Mark Cardenas (D), Rep. Cesar Chave (D), Rep. Ken Clark (D), Rep. Charlene Fernandez (D), Rep. Randall Friese (D), Rep. Rosanna Gabaldon (D), Rep. Sally Gonzalez (D), Rep. Daniel Hernandez (D), Rep. Ray Martinez (D), Rep. Otoniel Navarette (D), Rep. Pamela Hannley (D), Rep. Tony Rivero (R), Rep. Macarlo Saldate (D), Rep. Athena Salman (D), Sen. Lupe Contreras (D), Sen. Lisa Otondo (D).
Description: The bill is a memorial urging congress to enact legislation that would provide medical treatment and other benefits to for those veterans who have been deported.
