Assembly Bill 27 aims to expand veterans' benefits in Wisconsin to include individuals who were naturalized under the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill modifies the definition of a veteran to encompass these individuals, thereby granting them access to most veterans' benefits, with the exception of admission to state veterans homes and burial in veterans cemeteries, which are governed by federal regulations.

Key changes in the bill include the creation of new statutory provisions that define eligibility criteria for veterans' benefits, specifically referencing the newly included category of veterans under section 45.01 (12) (fm). Additionally, amendments to existing statutes remove the previous definitions of veterans and replace them with the updated criteria that include the newly recognized veterans. This legislative effort seeks to acknowledge and support those who served in Laos during the Vietnam War, thereby enhancing the benefits available to a broader group of veterans in Wisconsin.

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