Purpose

To create a dedicated funding program for the Veterans Resilience Project that provides eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to veterans, veterans' spouses, current military service members, and current service members' spouses who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma-related issues.

Main Provisions

• Funding and appropriation
  • An appropriation of 400,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2026 and 400,000 in fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the Veterans Resilience Project.
  • The base for this appropriation is 400,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter.
• Use of funds
  • The money must be used to make EMDR therapy available to:
  • veterans
  • veterans' spouses
  • current military service members
  • current military service members' spouses
  • These individuals must be suffering from PTSD and trauma.
• Reporting requirements
  • The Veterans Resilience Project must report annually by January 15 to the commissioner of veterans affairs and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs policy and finance.
  • The annual report must include:
  • an overview of the program’s budget
  • a detailed explanation of program expenditures
  • the number of veterans and service members served
  • a list and explanation of the services provided to program participants

Implementation and Oversight

• Administration
  • The commissioner of veterans affairs administers the grant to the Veterans Resilience Project.
• Oversight and accountability
  • Annual reporting to both the commissioner and the specified legislative leadership to ensure transparency and track program impact.

Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new appropriation and program
  • Establishes a dedicated funding line in the general fund for the Veterans Resilience Project.
  • Adds annual reporting requirements to monitor use of funds, services delivered, and participants served.
• No other existing laws are explicitly amended in this section beyond establishing this new program and its reporting obligations.

Significance

• Establishes a stable funding stream for EMDR therapy targeting PTSD and trauma among veterans and active-duty personnel and their families.
• Introduces formal accountability through annual progress reports detailing budget, expenditures, and services delivered.

Relevant Terms - Veterans Resilience Project - EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) - Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Trauma - Veterans - Spouses - Current military service members - General Fund - Commissioner of Veterans Affairs - Grant - Appropriation - Budget overview - Program expenditures - Number served - Services provided - January 15 (report deadline)