Veterans (National Guard & Reserve)

SB 308 standardizes fee waivers for eligible students enrolled in the Nevada System of Higher Education. It expands existing waivers to cover registration, laboratory, and other mandatory fees for all undergraduate and graduate degree programs, applying to groups including active Nevada National Guard members (and recruits), veterans with Purple Hearts, families of fallen service members, homeless students, and Native American tribal members or descendants. Students using these waivers must maintain a 2.0 GPA and be deemed Nevada residents for fee purposes. The bill also allows National Guard members to reassign waivers to spouses or children after reenlistment, subject to specific usage limits.

AB 532 consolidates multiple existing fee waiver programs at the University of Nevada into a single unified system. It applies to students meeting specific eligibility criteria (such as being a Nevada National Guard member, veteran's family member, homeless student, or descendant of a Native American tribal member) enrolled in eligible undergraduate or graduate degree programs. The bill requires students to complete the FAFSA if eligible, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and apply all non-loan financial aid before the waiver covers remaining fees. It excludes trade/vocational programs and ensures current waiver holders can continue using their existing waivers for non-covered programs until July 1, 2029.

SB 175 modifies Nevada law to ensure military members and veterans can more easily become licensed educators. It requires school districts to count certification as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) instructor - held by active military members or veterans - as valid credit toward teaching licenses or endorsements. The bill expands existing rules that previously only applied to veterans’ Joint Services Transcripts by specifically including JROTC instructor credentials in the list of recognized qualifications. This change directly affects military-affiliated individuals seeking teaching roles in Nevada public schools.

AB 350 requires cemetery authorities to obtain a court order before disinterring or removing human remains, replacing previous authority held by cemetery boards or governmental entities. It also removes county commissioners' power to set cemetery maintenance rules, instead mandating specific actions by cemetery owners to maintain order. Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for veterans' cemeteries to include National Guard reservists and veterans receiving VA commemorative items, requiring new fees for interment and markers under these criteria. These changes directly affect cemetery operators, veterans' families, and local government oversight of burial sites.

AB 281 revises Nevada's compensation rules for state militia members injured, disabled, or killed while on active duty. It changes the benefit calculation so members or their dependents now receive compensation equivalent to federal military benefits (under Title 10 or 32 of U.S. Code) rather than the previous state-based formula. The bill specifically applies to Nevada National Guard members and reservists activated by the governor, ensuring their benefits align with federal standards for similar military service. It also clarifies that state benefits don't apply if the member is already receiving federal compensation for the same injury or death.