The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5408, aims to enhance the training and support provided to veterans' service officers and municipal providers of veterans' assistance. Key changes include the establishment of a training module focused on assisting veterans, particularly women veterans, with state and federal services, as well as community and nonprofit programs. The bill mandates that the manager of the Office of Advocacy and Assistance develop this training module and conduct annual training sessions for veterans' service officers and municipal representatives. Additionally, it requires that at least one veterans' service officer be a woman with a demonstrated interest in women's issues, and that two officers possess bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

The bill also introduces several new reporting and outreach requirements. The office will be tasked with creating a written outreach plan to improve assistance for veterans and their families, and it will track outreach efforts electronically. Furthermore, the office is required to provide quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees for the Department of Veterans Affairs, summarizing concerns raised by veterans and their families, petitions filed, and other relevant information. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.