Dave Murphy, Wisconsin State Representative for 56th District | Official Website
Dave Murphy, Wisconsin State Representative for 56th District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill expands veterans benefits in Wisconsin by including individuals naturalized under the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 in the definition of "veteran." The expansion grants most state veterans benefits to these individuals, but does not extend to admission in state veterans homes or burial in veterans cemeteries due to federal regulations. Specifically, the bill modifies certain existing statutes to ensure that those who meet the newly expanded definition are eligible for specific educational exemptions and benefits. The effective expansions clarify the inclusion criteria, benefiting those who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War and who are now residents of Wisconsin.
The bill was co-authored by Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), and Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), along 40 other co-sponsors.
David Murphy has co-authored or authored another 12 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Murphy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley in 1974.
Murphy, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2013 to represent the state's 56th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Michelle Litjens.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB27 | 02/17/2025 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War |
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