Grand Canyon Times

Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.) recently signed two bills to ease the financial difficulties that many veterans face, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

The bills will provide a $10 million investment to waive higher education tuition for the spouses of veterans and waive licensing fees for veterans who start a business.

“Our veterans give us so much, and Arizona is dedicated to finding more ways to honor them,” Ducey said in the news release.

The first bipartisan bill honors a commitment made during the governor’s State of the State address.

“This session, we delivered,” Ducey said. “We followed up on our State of the State promise to launch a program to waive in-state higher education tuition for the dedicated husbands and wives of veterans who have served and sacrificed as well. Arizona will continue to lower barriers and give back to this selfless and courageous community.”

House Bill 2741 waives state business licensing fees for honorably discharged veterans and military spouses when starting a business. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Joanne Osborne (R-Yuma).

“I was honored to sponsor H.B. 2741, which will have huge impacts for military families and veterans who have recently been discharged from the military,” Osborne said. “In Arizona, career opportunities are widely available, and we should ensure military spouses are able to continue their careers in Arizona by waiving their licensing fees. I appreciate my fellow legislators who passed this legislation and Gov. Ducey for signing it into law.”

The law adds to current standards that say “agencies must waive any initial business licensing fee for an applicant whose income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines,” the news release noted.

“Through the Arizona Roadmap to Veteran Employment, we’ve seen how consistent employment can stabilize the military family,” retired Air Force Col. Wanda Wright said. “This fee waiver presents an important next step in knocking down barriers and creating a path to employment for service members, their spouses, and veterans who have or are transitioning from military to civilian life.”

House Bill 2701 was sponsored by Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R-Gilbert). It reduces fees for hunting and fishing licenses issued to veterans by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, according to the news release. Veterans with a service-connected disability will receive a 25% reduction on hunting and fishing licenses, and Purple Heart recipients will receive a 50% reduction.

“It’s important that we continue to support those who have done so much to protect our nation – military veterans,” Biasiucci said. “H.B. 2701 does that by reducing the cost of hunting and fishing licenses for veterans in Arizona. I’m pleased to see this legislation be signed into law by the governor, and I thank everyone who showed their support.”

Ty Gray, director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, spoke about the bill as well.

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission have a long history of honoring our veterans; this is another way we continue to thank them for their service,” he said. “Thanks to Gov. Ducey and the Arizona legislature for the opportunity to offer this to the brave men and women who have served our country and value the role our veterans play in wildlife conservation.”