Indiana · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
SB 344: Veterans service officers.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 344 is a bill introduced in the Indiana Senate on January 13, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Veterans service officers. Primary sponsor: Jim Tomes (Republican), Fady Qaddoura (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (January 28, 2025): Senator Tomes added as second author.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Defines "qualified part-time service officer". Establishes the county service officer grant fund to provide grants to counties for salaries for county service officers, including qualified part-time service officers. Requires the Indiana department of veterans' affairs commission (commission) to adopt rules establishing minimum annual salaries that a county must pay for county service officers, including qualified part-time service officers, in order for the county to receive a grant. Provides that the Indiana department of veterans' affairs (department) shall administer the fund. Requires a county or city service officer appointed or employed after June 30, 2025, to be accredited by the National Association of County Service Officers. Requires each county to appoint a county service officer. (Current law provides that a county may appoint a county service officer.) Requires a county that does not contain a consolidated city to employ: (1) a full-time service officer or two qualified part-time service officers if the county has at least 5,000 veterans residing in the county; and (2) an additional qualified part-time service officer for each additional 2,500 veterans. Requires a county containing a consolidated city to hire at least one full-time service officer or two qualified part-time service officers for each 10,000 veterans residing in the county. Requires that a county or city service officer appointed or employed before July 1, 2025, must be accredited by the National Association of County Service Officers before July 1, 2027. Makes an appropriation.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Tomes | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 49 |
| Fady Qaddoura | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 30 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Senator Tomes added as second author
- First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and The Military
- Authored by Senator Qaddoura