Veterans Affairs and The Military

Adds one voting member to the Indiana defense task force (task force) appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one voting member to the task force appointed by the speaker of the house. Adds the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard or the adjutant general's designee as a nonvoting member of the task force. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2026, and each May 1 thereafter, the task force shall submit a report to the Indiana economic development corporation's office of defense development and the budget committee. Provides that the report shall identify the task force's identified priorities for expenditures for the following state fiscal year. Provides that on or before August 1, 2027, and each August 1 thereafter, the corporation's office of defense development shall submit a report to the task force and the budget committee that details expenditures from amounts appropriated to the corporation's office of defense development for priorities identified by the task force for the previous state fiscal year. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 state fiscal year, and each state fiscal year thereafter, the corporation's office of defense development shall consider and incorporate, to the extent practicable, the task force's identified priorities for expenditures when the corporation's office of defense development formulates its annual budget. Provides that the IEDC and an operating partner shall administer the federal Unmanned Aircraft System Test Site program Indiana.

Provides that a person may not receive compensation for: (1) the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of; or (2) advising, consulting, or assisting an individual regarding; a veterans' benefits matter, except as permitted under federal law. Provides that a person may not receive compensation for referring an individual to another person to provide services related to veterans' benefits matters. Provides that a person may not receive excessive or unreasonable fees for services related to veterans' benefits matters. Provides that a person may not condition the repayment of fees: (1) upon the opening of a joint account with the recipient of veterans' benefits from which the person may make withdrawals; (2) upon the use of electronic funds transfers; or (3) by requiring an individual to act, in any manner, in violation of federal requirements relating to preauthorized transactions. Provides that a person may not collect, or attempt to collect, any fee for services rendered after receipt of benefits by a veteran or any other individual eligible for the benefits, if the person participated in the veterans' benefits matter prior to the issuance of veterans' benefits, and if the transaction was structured with an intent to avoid prohibited acts. Provides that a person seeking to receive compensation for services related to veterans' benefits matters must, before rendering any services, enter into a written agreement that is signed by both parties and that complies with federal regulations, including all terms regarding the payment of fees for services rendered. Requires a person to provide certain disclosures when entering into a business relationship with an individual or advertising for compensation services. Provides that a violation constitutes a deceptive act under the law concerning deceptive consumer sales and senior consumer protection provisions.

Provides that a person may not receive compensation for services related to veterans' benefits matters except as permitted under federal law. Provides that a person may not receive compensation for referring an individual to another person to provide services related to veterans' benefits matters. Provides that a person seeking to receive compensation for services related to veterans' benefits matters must, before rendering any services, memorialize in a written agreement that is signed by both parties and that complies with federal regulations all terms regarding the payment of fees for services rendered. Provides that a person may not receive excessive or unreasonable fees for services related to veterans' benefits matters. Provides that a violation constitutes a deceptive act under the law concerning deceptive consumer sales.

Changes references relating to military discharges to require discharges under honorable conditions. (Current law provides that a veteran is eligible for benefits except under certain conditions designated by the Indiana department of veterans' affairs.) Excludes references used to determine eligibility for grants from the military family relief fund.

Provides veteran empowerment protections. Provides that a person may not represent a veteran regarding a veterans' benefits matter unless the person meets certain requirements. Provides that a person that advises, assists, or consults with an individual regarding veterans' benefits matters for a fee: (1) may not use international call centers or data centers for processing veterans' personal information; (2) may not use a veteran's personal log-in, username, or password information to access the veteran's medical, financial, or government benefits information; (3) must ensure that before any individual may have access to veterans' medical or financial information the individual must undergo a national criminal history background check; and (4) shall comply with certain federal regulations. Provides that a violation of the act constitutes a prohibited consumer sale.