WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

1446XD

County Veteran Service Officers, Reporting and Training Requirements (1446XD) - Veterans Affairs, Department of

2025-2026 Regular Session

Expands Iowa CVSOs’ training options, requires certification and PIV card within a year, and shifts annual reporting to the fiscal year for clearer, timelier data.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · 1446XD

Summary: Bill 1446XD — County Veteran Service Officers, Reporting and Training Requirements (Iowa)

Status: Proposed bill (Prefiled as Senate/House File by the Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Introduced: November 28, 2025
- Classification: Proposed bill; Code revision

Purpose and intent

  • Modernize and streamline training and accreditation for County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) in Iowa.
  • Increase flexibility in continuing education by permitting multiple approved training providers, rather than limiting CVSOs to the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) for continuing education.
  • Align reporting requirements with the state’s fiscal year rather than the calendar year.

Key provisions

1) Training and certification for CVSOs
- Executive directors/administrators of county commissions of veteran affairs must:
- Complete a course to obtain certification as directed by the IDVA Commandant.
- Complete training required by federal standards for their position.
- Obtain a Personal Identification Verification (PIV) card necessary to access the Veterans Benefits Management System.
- If certification or PIV card is not obtained within one year of employment, the executive director/administrator may be removed from office.
- The Commandant may extend the one-year period in extenuating circumstances upon request.
- Continuing education requirements:
- Executive directors/administrators must satisfy continuing education requirements established by the IDVA Commandant and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
- The prohibition on the NACVSO requirement is removed; training requirements will be set by the IDVA Commandant and the US VA.
- Expenses for training are paid from the appropriation in section 35B.14.

2) Training provider flexibility
- Removes the existing reference to NACVSO as the sole acceptable source of continuing education.
- Allows the Commandant to approve multiple organizations for CVSOs’ continuing education, increasing training options.

3) Reporting changes
- The annual report submitted by IDVA to the Governor and General Assembly will use information from the previous fiscal year (instead of the previous calendar year for training compliance and hours of veterans’ services).
- Section 35A.5(14) changes indicate the reporting focus will transition to fiscal-year timing.

What is affected

  • CVSOs and their executive directors/administrators in Iowa county commissions of veteran affairs.
  • Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) Commandant (authority over training, certification, and approvals).
  • The Governor and General Assembly (receiving annual reports reflecting fiscal-year data).

Timeline and procedural notes

  • The bill is prefiled as S.F. _____ / H.F. _____ by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Current text does not specify an effective date; implementation would follow enactment as determined by the General Assembly.
  • The bill addresses both training requirements and reporting cycles, with a clear shift to fiscal-year reporting.

Potential impact

  • More training options could enhance CVSOs’ access to relevant and timely education, potentially improving veterans’ services.
  • Stronger certification requirements and clearer timelines may improve professionalism and compliance across CVSOs.
  • Fiscal-year reporting may provide the legislature with a more consistent, status-quo reflection of program operations and performance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.