Bill > HB1018

This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs to establish a work group every four years to create and implement a statewide strategic plan aimed at guiding legislative and budget decisions concerning veterans in the Commonwealth. This work group will be comprised of at least nine members, including the Secretary or their representative, the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services or their representative, a member from the Board of Veterans Services, a member from the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations, four members of the General Assembly (two appointed by the Speaker of the House and two by the Senate Committee on Rules), and a representative from a women veterans' organization. The Secretary or their designee will chair the group, which must hold its first meeting by August 1, 2026, and then every four years thereafter. The work group's responsibilities include developing a four-year strategic plan, identifying measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) to compare with other states' veteran quality of life metrics, assessing Virginia's current KPIs against those of other states, proposing legislative and budgetary recommendations, and creating a scorecard of Virginia's KPIs to be presented to the General Assembly Military and Veterans Caucus. The work group is required to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2026, and every four years following that.

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1018