Veterans officials would create a four-year planning work group

The Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs would convene a work group to study veterans’ needs and recommend a statewide plan. The group would include at least nine members, including state veterans officials, legislators, veterans’ organizations, and a group focused on women veterans. The Secretary or a designee would chair the group and could appoint additional members. The group would develop performance measures, compare Virginia with other states, recommend legislative and budget actions, and create a scorecard. The work group’s plan would guide legislation and budget decisions for the next four years, but the text does not require lawmakers to adopt its recommendations. The group would meet every four years. Its first meeting would occur by August 1, 2026, and its first report would be due by November 1, 2026; later reports would be due every four years.