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sHB5298 / File No. 140 1
General Assembly File No. 140
February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No. 5298
House of Representatives, March 24, 2026
The Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs reported
through REP. FOSTER of the 57th Dist., Chairperson of the
Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill
ought to pass.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE PROJECTS TO PLACE OR MAINTAIN WAR OR
VETERANS' MEMORIALS OR MONUMENTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective October 1, 2026 ) (a) For the fiscal year 1
ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of 2
Veterans Affairs shall administer a program to provide grants to 3
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services for 4
capital expenditure projects to place or maintain war or veterans' 5
memorials or monuments. 6
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the department shall develop 7
eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such 8
grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a 9
conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description 10
of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such criteria, 11
forms and deadlines. 12
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(c) (1) For the purposes described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 13
the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to 14
authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 15
principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate two million dollars. 16
(2) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 17
stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be used by the 18
Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of providing grants to 19
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services for 20
capital expenditure projects under subsection (a) of this section. 21
(3) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 22
of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 23
provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 24
bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 25
section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 26
from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 27
accordance with section 3 -20 of the general statutes and from time to 28
time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 29
exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 30
in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 31
Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 32
authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 33
there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 34
by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 35
and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 36
discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 37
be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 38
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 39
interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 40
part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 41
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 42
principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 43
such principal and interest as the same become due. 44
(d) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the 45
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department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 46
section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of 47
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to veterans' 48
and military affairs . Such report shall include information for the 49
preceding calendar year on the number of applications for grants that 50
were received, the number of grants that were awarded and a list of the 51
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services that 52
received grants. 53
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section
VA Joint Favorable Subst.
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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Treasurer, Debt Serv. GF - Cost None See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Various Municipalities Potential
Revenue
Gain
See Below See Below
Explanation
The bill authorizes $2 million in General Obligation bonds during FY
27 for grants for veterans' memorials and monuments. To the extent
bonds are fully allocated and expended, total debt service is expected to
be approximately $3.1 million over the 20-year duration of the bonds.
The bill could result in municipal revenue gain up to $2 million, to
the extent that future awards go to municipal recipients.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the terms of any bonds issued.
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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5298
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE PROJECTS TO PLACE OR MAINTAIN WAR OR
VETERANS' MEMORIALS OR MONUMENTS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), starting
FY 28, to administer a grant program for municipalities and nonprofit s
providing human or social services for capital expenditure projects to place
or maintain war or veterans’ memorials or monuments. It authorizes up to
$2 million in state general obligation bonds and requires DVA to use the
proceeds for the grant program the bill establishes. The bonds are subject
to standard statutory bond issuance procedures and repayment
requirements.
By January 1, 202 7, DVA must (1) develop (a) eligibility criteria for
selecting among grant applicants and (b) related application forms and
deadlines, and (2) conspicuously post this information on its website.
The bill also requires DVA, starting by January 1, 2028, to annually
report to the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee with information
for the preceding calendar year on the number of grant applications
received, the number of grants awarded, and a list of the municipalities
and nonprofits that received grants.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 22 Nay 0 (03/10/2026)