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HB514 • 2026

Benefit awareness & access prog.; establishes, military service members transition to civilian life.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2001.7, relating to Department of Veterans Services; benefit awareness and access; program.</p>

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Martinez
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Continued
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about penalties for non-compliance or specify exact benefits and services covered by the program.

Program for Military Members Transitioning to Civilian Life

This bill creates a program that helps military service members, veterans, National Guard members, reserve members, and their families learn about and access benefits and services.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates an outreach program to help people leaving the military find out about federal, state, and local benefits and services.
  • Requires the Department of Veterans Services to work with other agencies to develop this program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Military service members transitioning from military to civilian life
  • Veterans and their family members
  • Members of the Virginia National Guard and their families
  • Residents of Virginia who are part of the Armed Forces Reserves and their families

Terms To Know

Outreach program
A plan to help people learn about and use available benefits and services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact details of how the outreach program will be run.
  • It's unclear what specific benefits and services will be included in the program.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 Finance and Appropriations

    Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  2. 2026-02-25 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations Block Vote (15-Y 0-N)

  3. 2026-02-19 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB514)

  4. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  5. 2026-02-17 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  6. 2026-02-16 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  7. 2026-02-16 House

    Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  8. 2026-02-16 House

    Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. 2026-02-13 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  10. 2026-02-12 House

    Read first time

  11. 2026-02-10 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  12. 2026-02-10 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB514)

  13. 2026-02-05 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  14. 2026-01-23 Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

    Assigned HGL sub: Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process

  15. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101453D

  16. 2026-01-13 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Department of Veterans Services; benefit awareness and access; program.
Establishes an outreach program to ensure military service members transitioning from military to civilian life, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, residents of the Commonwealth in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members can easily access federal, state, and local benefits and other programs and services available to them. The bill requires the outcomes of such program to be published in the annual report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
2.2-2001.7
, relating to Department of Veterans Services; benefit awareness and access; program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
2.2-2001.7
as follows:

§
2.2-2001
.
7
.
Benefit awareness and access; program
.

A.
The
Department
, in collaboration with relevant agencies of the Commonwealth, localities, and service providers,

shall
develop a

comprehensive
outreach
program
for
military service members transitioning from military to civilian life, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, residents
of the Commonwealth
in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members
. The purpose of such program is to ensure such individuals

are aware of

and
can
easily
access federal, state,
and
local
benefits
and other programs

and services available to them.

B. The Commissioner shall include the
outcomes
of the program in the annual report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly pursuant to §
2.2-2004
.
The report shall include
outreach
initiatives facilitated pursuant to
the program and the outcomes of such initiatives.