This bill modifies the definition of "veteran" in New Hampshire law to expand eligibility for state benefits and programs that rely on veteran status. The new definition replaces the requirement of an "honorable discharge" with "any discharge under honorable conditions," thereby including individuals with a general discharge under honorable conditions. Additionally, the bill amends various statutes to ensure that the updated definition is consistently applied across different contexts, such as employment preferences and property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state resident veterans, with fees adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. The fee structure includes a sliding scale that offers significant discounts for veterans with lower disability ratings and waives the fee entirely for those rated 100% disabled. The Fish and Game Department is also required to issue refunds to veterans who previously purchased a lifetime license at the standard rate, based on their qualifying disability rating. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, for the lifetime license provisions, while other sections will become effective 60 days after passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21:50, 119:6, 283:4, 97:1, 110-D:3
As Amended by the Senate: 21:50, 119:6, 283:4, 97:1, 110-D:3
SB448 text: 21:50, 119:6, 283:4, 97:1, 110-D:3