Veterans (Veteran Benefits)

SB 117 requires Nevada's Department of Veterans Services to share existing materials about military discharge upgrades with all veteran service agencies statewide. It specifically ensures LGBTQ+ veterans and their families can access clear information on changing their discharge status or narrative reason. The bill mandates that resource centers providing veteran services receive these materials to streamline assistance. This expands current outreach without creating new programs, making discharge upgrade support more consistently available.

AB 145 strengthens oversight of veterans' benefit assistance and expands state support programs. It requires anyone helping veterans file claims with federal or state agencies (like the VA or Nevada Department of Veterans Services) to be accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with exceptions for unpaid help or when federal law already applies. The bill also creates a state Veterans Coordinator to manage two new programs: a veteran hiring initiative for state jobs (including spouses of veterans) and a peer mentor program for veterans employed by the state. Additionally, it extends free annual state park permits to surviving spouses, parents, or adult children of service members killed in action. These changes directly affect veterans, their families, state employees, and individuals seeking veterans' benefits.