The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 6765, mandates the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to implement a program starting January 1, 2026, that provides assistance vouchers to eligible veterans for dental services. These services can be accessed at federally-qualified health centers, the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and other public institutions of higher education that offer dental care. The bill outlines that the commissioner must adopt regulations to establish eligibility criteria, application procedures, types of dental services covered, and the costs that can be reimbursed under the program.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and it introduces new legal language regarding the implementation of the assistance program while deleting no existing legal language. The fiscal impact includes potential costs to the Department of Veterans Affairs for administering the program and a possible revenue gain for the UConn Health Center, depending on the number of veterans utilizing the dental services. The overall financial implications will depend on the program's structure, including eligibility determinations and the extent of financial assistance provided through the vouchers.