Did not become law. It stopped in the Senate's Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs Committee on June 27, 2025. The 2025 session has ended.
2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 658
Provides that, when an interview is an element of the process of selecting a candidate for a civil service position from an eligibility list, the public employer must interview each veteran applicant who meets the qualifications for the position and shows transferable skills if the duties of the position are performed by only one person within the public employer's organization.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.
Digest: The Act says that if a veteran applies for a job and has the right skills, the employer must interview them. If a veteran doesn't get the job, the employer has to send them a notice telling them why. The law also allows veterans to take legal action. The DVA will look into any complaints about unfair treatment of veterans in hiring. Lastly, public employers must have yearly training about how to support veterans, and completing this training can help protect them from claims of unfairness. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). Provides that, when an interview is an element of the process of selecting a candidate for a civil service position from an eligibility list, the public employer must interview each veteran applicant who meets the qualifications for the position and shows transferable skills if the duties of the position are performed by only one person within the public employer's organization. Requires a public employer to provide written notice to a veteran who is eliminated from consideration for a vacant civil service position. Provides the right to a jury trial and permits awards of noneconomic damages in civil suits for a violation of veterans' employment preference statutes. Modifies the period for notice of a tort claim against a public body for violation of veterans' employment preference statutes. Directs the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish a program for investigation and nonbinding arbitration of alleged violations of veterans' employment preference statutes. Requires public employers to conduct an annual training related to veterans' employment preferences. Provides that conducting an approved annual training is an affirmative defense to a claim for violation of veterans' employment preference statutes.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the Senate
Sponsor
Its course
January 13 to June 27, 2025, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Every action4 actions on 4 days
In the SenateJan 13 to Jun 27 · stopped165 days
Waiting for a committeeJan 13 to Jan 174 days
Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World AffairsJan 17 to Jun 27 · stopped161 days
Text
Each version as the Legislative Assembly printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislative Assembly published it is below.
In the Senate Jan 13 – Jun 27
- Jan 13Introduced
- Jan 17Sent to Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs
- Feb 20Heard in Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs
- Jun 27Died when the session ended
All 4 actions, as published
- Jan 13Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.Senate
- Jan 17Referred to Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs.Senate
- Feb 20Public Hearing held.Senate
- Jun 27In committee upon adjournment.Senate