American Veterans Magazine - July 2024 - Inaugural edition

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Soldier’s Best Friend provides veterans living with combat-related PTSD or TBI with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs (at no cost), most of which are rescued from local shelters. The veteran and dog train together to build a trusting

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THE MAYBE NEXT YEARS SB 1015 : Died in chamber. The bill made National Guard license plates available to non-National Guard members. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. SB 1409 : Died in chamber. The bill expanded tuition scholarships for military veteran spouses to include private colleges and universities, to be waived with public funds held by the Arizona Board of Regents. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. SB 1413 : Died in chamber. The bill redefined the “armed forces” benefits income tax write-off to “uniformed services,” which would have expanded the gross income subtraction from only military members to other federal departments. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. SB 1469 : Died in chamber. The bill expanded eligibility for employment as a school resource officer in Arizona to include military veterans. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. SB 1672 : Died in chamber. The bill restructured the state’s military affairs commission to mandate four members who are retired from the U.S. Armed Forces. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. SB 1685 : Died in chamber. The bill added new rules about how the state may award grant money from the veterans’ donation fund. The new rules expanded who is eligible and how much will be awarded, and increased government transparency. It passed the Senate and was held in the House. HB 2552 : Died in chamber. The bill ordered the construction of a transitional care facility providing supportive housing services, onsite medical care and behavioral health services for military members transitioning to military life. It passed the House and was held in the Senate. HB 2722 : Died in chamber. The bill required the state to pay for group life insurance for officers and enlisted personnel of the Arizona National Guard. It passed the House and was held in the Senate. HB 2765 : Died in chamber. The bill allowed a county board of supervisors to appoint active-duty military members with assignment orders to a post of duty in Arizona, or their family members, to an election board, even if that person is not an Arizona voter. It passed the House and was held in the Senate. HB 2766 : Died in chamber. The bill allocated $1 million from the consumer remediation fund to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services for grants to nonprofits that deliver clinical care or clinical education for the benefit of veterans and active military members. It passed the House and was held in the Senate. HB 2782 : Died in chamber. The bill required the state to prioritize veterans when spending money from the homeless shelter and services fund. It passed the House and was held in the Senate.

to adopt emergency rules applicable to people leaving active service in the U.S. Armed Forces and returning to civilian status. SB 1552 : Failed in committees. The bill established grants for outdoor therapy programs that maximize the number of partici- pants who are veterans recovering from addiction or trauma. HB 2105 : Failed in committees. The bill gave the Department of Health a grant to research mushroom psilocybin for treatment of PTSD in veterans. HB 2143 : Held awaiting reading. The bill expanded a fee waiver homeless veterans receive to get a nonoperating identification license to all homeless people. HB 2181 : Failed in House. The bill barred the Arizona National Guard from being called to active-duty combat except in the event of a declaration of war by the federal government. HB 2776 : Failed in committees. The bill allowed the governor to call the militia of Arizona to active duty to repel an invasion, suppress an insurrection, convey prisoners or enforce state laws. HB 2331 : Failed in committees. The bill established a new Veteran Community Enhancement special ADOT vanity license plate and authorized a $32,000 implementation fee. HB 2390 : Failed in committees. The bill exempted combat veterans from paying property tax. HB 2392 : Failed in committees. The bill allowed compensation received for active service in the reserves, National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces to be written off up to $2,500. HB 2577 : Failed in committees. The bill established June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day. HB 2585 : Failed in committees. The bill allowed chairmen to appoint people who are not registered to vote in Arizona as political party representatives if they are active-duty military members with orders to a post of duty in Arizona, or the family members of those people. HB 2603 : Failed in committees. The bill established a Native American Veteran special ADOT vanity license plate and autho- rized a $32,000 implementation fee. HB 2652 : Failed in committees. The bill established the Jus- tice-Involved Veterans Study Committee to identify federal, state and local resources to support veterans. HB 2741 : Failed in committees. The bill allowed concealed weapons permits to people under age 21 but at least age 19 if they provided evidence of current military service or honorable dis- charge. HB 2780 : Failed in committees. The bill ordered the Department of Transportation to issue special military support license plates. HB 2792 : Failed in committees. The bill eliminated predatory practices of people receiving compensation from veterans, their families or caregivers for a service that is free through the Department of Veterans Services. HB 2881 : Failed in committees. The bill exempted veterans from medical marijuana identification.

relationship that saves two lives and inspires countless others.

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“I had no clue how diicult civilian life was going to be. Now, Koda is my battle buddy. He seems to know when I need him and he keeps me happy, laughing and calm.” Terry & Koda

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Veteran/dog teams graduated since 2011

Homeless dogs rescued from local shelters

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AMERICAN VETERANS Summer 2024

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