users.sls is state, rest are pillars. I can't get it to use the 'adm_group' pillar...

admin.sls

{% if grains['os'] == 'Debian' %}
adm_group: sudo
{% else %}
adm_group: wheel
{% endif %}

group1.sls

include:
  - users.admin

users:

  mbarnett:
    fullname: Melissa Barnett
    groups:
      - {{ salt['pillar.get']('adm_group') }}
    crypt: $6$eR6EbjW8$abCOo.v/bx629Sl0jz0R61jIE8kC8Q3v7VhxTDjTerSiJnF.9Qv2XXw/Whb3x48yBfFGAPmiHW5PAKxNcegcg1
    home: /home/mbarnett
    pub_ssh_keys:
      - ecdsa-sha2-nistp384 AAAAE2VjZHNhLXNoYTItbmlzdHAzODQAAAAIbmlzdHAzODQAAABhBJaCbwZbztcLoExqmQ0ss2O7aMZbH/Ab35aglmSJJJzygD9VM3j3NIxHoZp9Cd5z5xn9CtDNRrifTNBqoPXi8NHL+DYPH4O+RiUSDaBcQ2eWJ9VMMGGuWnKpHNYcJZ3tOA== Melissa Barnett

  lward:
    fullname: Lucas Ward
    groups:
      - {{ salt['pillar.get']('adm_group') }}
    crypt: $6$eR6EbjW8$abCOo.v/bx629Sl0jz0R61jIE8kC8Q3v7VhxTDjTerSiJnF.9Qv2XXw/Whb3x48yBfFGAPmiHW5PAKxNcegcg1
    home: /home/lward
    pub_ssh_keys:
      - ecdsa-sha2-nistp384 AAAAE2VjZHNhLXNoYTItbmlzdHAzODQAAAAIbmlzdHAzODQAAABhBAxxGtP94N1TV91W4DAk933JFcJcsg0Kr4gzzyi9aVddMpqsoxEQ3ORH43SeZeFsCATYdeln6ktaPnTpFFzLDyrST3eXKQ/ryZ22+pE7u+0UpAhTc/3OLD0PKpRagNRIsw== Lucas Ward

init.sls

{% if grains['nodename'] == 'db1' %}
include:
  - users.group1
#  - users.group3
{% endif %}

users.sls

{% for user, args in pillar['users'].iteritems() %}
{{ user }}:
  group:
    - present
  user.present:
    - home: {{ args['home'] }}
{% if 'password' in args %}
    - password: {{ args['password'] }}
{% if 'enforce_password' in args %}
    - enforce_password: {{ args['enforce_password'] }}
{% endif %}
{% endif %}
    - fullname: {{ args['fullname'] }}
{% if 'groups' in args %}
    - groups: {{ args['groups'] }}
{% endif %}
    - require:
      - group: {{ user }}
 
{% if 'key.pub' in args and args['key.pub'] == True %}
{{ user }}_key.pub:
  ssh_auth:
    - present
    - user: {{ user }}
    - source: salt://users/{{ user }}/keys/key.pub
{% endif %}
{% endfor %}

Gives:

----------
    State: - group
    Name:      lward
    Function:  present
        Result:    True
        Comment:   Group lward is already present
        Changes:   
----------
    State: - user
    Name:      lward
    Function:  present
        Result:    False
        Comment:   The following group(s) are not present: None
        Changes:   
----------

# salt db1 pillar.get adm_group
db1:
    sudo

state.show_highstate shows:

    lward:
        ----------
        __env__:
            base
        __sls__:
            users
        group:
            - present
            ----------
            - order:
                10006
        user:
            ----------
            - home:
                /home/lward
            ----------
            - fullname:
                Lucas Ward
            ----------
            - groups:
                None
            ----------
            - require:
                ----------
                - group:
                    lward
            - present
            ----------
            - order:
                10007