House File 61 HOUSE FILE BY TYMESON, ALONS, LUKAN, PAULSEN, and D. TAYLOR Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act extending veterans benefits, preferences, and tax 2 exemptions to certain members of reserve forces of the United 3 States and the Iowa national guard, and providing an effective 4 date. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1379HH 80 7 sc/cf/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 35.1, subsection 2, paragraph b, 1 2 subparagraphs (1) and (2), Code 2003, are amended to read as 1 3 follows: 1 4 (1)Former membersMembers of the reserve forces of the 1 5 United States who have served at least twenty years in the 1 6 reserve forcesafter January 28, 1973,and who continue to 1 7 serve or were discharged under honorable conditions. However, 1 8 a member of the reserve forces of the United States who 1 9 completed a minimum aggregate of ninety days of active federal 1 10 service, other than training, and was discharged under 1 11 honorable conditions, or was retired under Title X of the 1 12 United States Code shall be included as a veteran. 1 13 (2)Former membersMembers of the Iowa national guard who 1 14 have served at least twenty years in the Iowa national guard 1 15after January 28, 1973,and who continue to serve or were 1 16 discharged under honorable conditions. However, a member of 1 17 the Iowa national guard who was activated for federal duty, 1 18 other than training, for a minimum aggregate of ninety days, 1 19 and was discharged under honorable conditions or was retired 1 20 under Title X of the United States Code shall be included as a 1 21 veteran. 1 22 Sec. 2. STATE FUNDING. The military service tax 1 23 exemptions and credits provided pursuant to this Act shall be 1 24 funded pursuant to chapter 426A and section 25B.7, subsection 1 25 2. 1 26 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 1 27 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 1 28 EXPLANATION 1 29 This bill modifies the definition of "veteran" to include 1 30 members of the reserve forces of the United States and the 1 31 Iowa national guard who have served at least 20 years in the 1 32 reserve or guard units. Under the bill it is not necessary to 1 33 have served at least 20 years after January 28, 1973, nor is 1 34 it necessary to be discharged after the period of service to 1 35 be eligible for veterans benefits. 2 1 In response to the requirements of Code section 25B.7, the 2 2 military service tax exemptions and credits resulting from the 2 3 modification to the definition of "veteran" are funded as 2 4 provided in Code chapter 426A. 2 5 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 2 6 LSB 1379HH 80 2 7 sc/cf/24