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Senate committee hears bill to reorganize Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee
Summary
The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee held a public hearing Feb. 3 on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541, which would change membership rules for the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee to increase at-large seats and require appointments to reflect military experience and demographic diversity.
Representative Abel, the bill’s prime sponsor, and co-sponsor Representative Simmons urged the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee to pass Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541, which would reorganize the state Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee to address long-term vacancies and broaden the governor’s flexibility in appointments.
The bill would keep the committee’s total size at 17 but change membership rules: the governor must appoint two representatives from veterans homes (based on nominations from those homes); the number of representatives appointed from nationally recognized veterans service organizations would be reduced from 10 to 6; and at-large positions would increase from two to six, to be filled with attention to military experience, geographic diversity and minority and women veterans’ viewpoints.
“I'm happy and proud to bring House Bill 1541 before the committee,” Representative Abel said, noting the bill had passed unanimously out of the House in the prior session and again this session. Representative Simmons, the co-sponsor, said the sponsors had worked over the interim with stakeholders, including visits to incarcerated veterans, and described the bill as a bipartisan step that preserves veterans-service-organization input while broadening appointment flexibility.
David Puente, director of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, testified remotely in support. “In its current form, the bill will modify the number of at‑large positions on the committee from 2 to 6,” Puente said, and added that the change preserves the committee’s total membership while allowing appointments of National Guard representatives, veterans homes representatives and formerly justice-involved veterans.
Committee members asked few questions during the hearing. Senator Coachella thanked Puente for outreach in Eastern Washington and Spokane. Madam Vice Chair reported 57 pro and one con signatures on the hearing sign-in sheet before the Chair closed the hearing.
The bill now awaits further committee action; no vote occurred at the hearing. The committee adjourned at the conclusion of the day’s business.
