Senate Bill 2 aims to expand veterans' benefits in Wisconsin to include individuals who were naturalized under the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill introduces a new definition of "veteran" that encompasses these individuals, allowing them to access most veterans' benefits, with the exception of admission to state veterans homes and burial in veterans cemeteries, which are governed by federal regulations. The bill creates several new sections in the statutes to outline the eligibility criteria for these benefits.

Key amendments include changes to existing definitions and provisions related to veterans. Specifically, the bill amends the definition of a veteran in section 45.44 to include the new category of veterans, and it modifies section 45.51 to clarify that the benefits apply to veterans, excluding those defined under the new section 45.01 (12) (fm). The bill also establishes new provisions in sections 36.27 and 38.24 to ensure that individuals meeting the expanded definition can receive appropriate exemptions and benefits.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 45.44(3)(c)(intro.), 45.44, 45.51(2)(a)1, 45.51