Legislative

Veterans Day at the Capitol
January 21, 2026

  • Schedule subject to change
  • 9:00 American Legion Briefing – Department Headquarters
  • Shuttle transportation will be provided to and from capitol
  • 10:00 Visit vendor tables – Capitol Rotunda – First Floor
  • 11:00 Veterans Day Program – Capitol Rotunda – First Floor
  • 11:45 Locate your elected officials to discuss legislative initiatives
  • The American Legion of Iowa Legislative Priorities
  • Please contact your Senators and Representatives to discuss our priorities.  Contact information for your legislator can be found at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators

Legislative Update – SF2466

  • SF 2466 addressed appropriations and training for county veterans’ service offices.
  • The American Legion of Iowa opposed the passage of SF2466 (see Overview of SF2466 below).
  • The Senate passed SF2466 in the 2026 General Assembly.
  • The bill did not advance from the House Veterans Affairs Committee in 2026.
  • In an extremely rare procedural move, SF 2466, the Governor’s and IDVA’s veteran services bill, was referred to the House Appropriations Committee after dying before the second funnel in the House Veterans Affairs Committee. This keeps the bill alive.
  • Members of The American Legion of Iowa are encouraged to contact your representative and voice The American Legion of Iowa’s opposition to this bill.
  • SF2466

Legislative Update – HF1000

  • HF1000 would provide funding in the form of matching grants to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to expand the number of employees directly working claims for VA benefits in the Department Service Offices.
  • The American Legion of Iowa supported the passage of HF1000
  • The 2025 General Assembly ended with the House passing HF1000 and the Senate failed to consider the bill.
  • In the 2026 General Assembly, the Senate failed to consider HF1000.
  • HF1000

Why The American Legion of Iowa Opposed SF2466

The American Legion supports efforts to improve services for Iowa’s veterans. However, we were concerned that SF2466 and the plan for implementing the bill contained provisions that could weaken, rather than strengthen, the system that currently helps veterans access the benefits they have earned. Ourkey concerns were:

1. Reduced Training Support
The bill eliminated $3,000 in funding counties can use for accredited training through organizations such as the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) and The American Legion. These programs ensure County Veteran Service Officers maintain national accreditation, ongoing education, and proficiency.

2. Flawed Incentive Structure
The proposed incentive program ranked counties against one another, ensuring that one-third will always fall at the bottom regardless of performance. This approach may disadvantage counties with the greatest need and does not account for factors outside local control, including retroactive federal awards and veterans who are not eligible for VA compensation. Additionally, the ranking was based only on federal VA compensation, and did not account for other provided services, such as coordinating transportation to VA appointments, connecting veterans with community resources, and assisting veterans with applications to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund.

3. Lack of Stakeholder Collaboration
This proposal was developed without meaningful input from the County Veteran Service Officers, Veteran Service Organizations, or the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs—the very groups responsible for helping veterans successfully access benefits every day.

We share the goal of strengthening services for Iowa’s veterans. However, meaningful collaboration with those on the front lines is essential.

HF 1000 would provide funding in the form of matching grants to Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to expand the number of employees directly working claims for VA benefits in the Department Service Offices. The appropriation we are requesting is $250,000 per year for a minimum of three years. We propose that the grants be administered by the Iowa Department of Veterans affairs.

For example, if salary and benefits to add an employee amount to $80,000, the organization would be responsible for $40,000 and the grant would provide $40,000. The grant would not be for existing employees, but only for adding additional employees.

As veterans, we know the impact the Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) have on Iowa’s veterans. Last fiscal year, veterans and their families represented by VSOs in Iowa received over $1.02 Billion in federal VA benefits. This is compensation for injuries and illnesses they suffer because of their military service.

These benefits are not a windfall for the veterans. It is compensation for the hardships they endure because of military service. They would eagerly trade that compensation for a return to health.

The assistance we provide, in cooperation with the county veterans’ service offices, comes at no cost to the veteran. Legislators are asked to not view this as an expense for the state of Iowa. Instead, view it as an investment in the services provided to Iowa veterans. The veterans in whom we are investing made a much bigger investment in the safety, security, and freedom we all enjoy.

The role of Veterans Service Organizations, County Veterans Service Office and the VA

The VA serves as the decision maker and has the responsibility of adjudicating claims. The role that the Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) play is the preparation of claims and advocating on behalf of the veteran to the VA.

Claims in Iowa typically start with the county. The County Veterans Service Office provides the initial development of the claim, after which they either submit it directly to the VA or through one of the VSOs. The county offices also play a critical role in tracking the claim on behalf of the veteran and providing additional documentation and evidence when necessary.

Where the Veterans Service Offices (VSOs), such as The American Legion, the VFW, and the DAV, enter the picture is when that claim is submitted to the VA. One of the VSOs is typically designated by the veteran to have Power of Attorney (POA) for that claim. The VSO then serves as an advocate for the veteran with the VA.

The VSOs will further develop the claim, if necessary, and represent the veteran through the adjudication process.  The VSOs will also represent the veteran in higher level reviews of the claim or in the case of an appeal if the VA denies the claim.

Why the Grant Program is Necessary

Currently, the VSOs receive no state or federal funding for the services we provide to Iowa veterans. That service is funded entirely through membership dues and donations to our organizations. Furthermore, we provide this service to all veterans, not just those who are members of our organizations.

The challenge that the VSOs face is that our revenue is declining, because of reduced membership and increased competition for donations. Yet, the number of VA claims we represent is increasing. Our military members are surviving injuries that were not survivable in earlier war eras. The number of environmental exposures is increasing due to burn pits and other hazardous conditions. VA claims are becoming more complex, and require more time to professionally develop, so that the VA decision makers can make the right decision the first time.

The VSOs all need more staff, so that we can better represent the veterans of Iowa and get them the benefits to which they are entitled.

Legislators hold local forums throughout the legislative session. Each week the forums will be posted here. The 2026 Forum Tracking Spreadsheet will list all the forums of which we are aware.

2026 Forum Tracking Spreadsheet

Friday, March 27

9:00–10:30 AM, Ankeny Weekly Office Hours, Rep. Heather Matson
Main Street Café & Bakery (2510 SW White Birch Dr, Ankeny)

4:00–5:00 PM, Iowa City Community School District Meeting, Amy Nielsen
District Offices (2257 N Dubuque Rd, Iowa City)

4:00–6:00 PM, Iowa City Community School District Legislative Forum, Rep. Adam Zabner
Iowa City Community School District (2255 N Dubuque Rd, Iowa City)

5:00–5:30 PM, Black Hawk County Legislative Forum, Sen. Bill Dotzler
Hawkeye Community College – Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center (120 Jefferson St, Waterloo)

5:00–6:30 PM, Cedar Valley Legislative Public Forum (Water Quality), Area Legislators
Hawkeye Community College – Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center (120 Jefferson St, Waterloo)

Saturday, March 28

8:00–9:00 AM, Eldridge Coffee & Conversation, Rep. Mike Vondran
Tasty Café (209 E LeClaire Rd, Eldridge)

8:30–9:30 AM, Oskaloosa Coffee & Conversation, Area Legislators
Smokey Row (109 S Market St, Oskaloosa)

9:00–10:00 AM, Oskaloosa Legislative Coffee, Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla
Smokey Row (109 S Market St, Oskaloosa)

9:00–10:00 AM, Windsor Heights Voters Forum, Sen. Renee Hardman
Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce (1145 66th St, Windsor Heights)

9:00–10:00 AM, Spencer Eggs & Issues, Area Legislators
Spencer City Hall Council Chambers (101 W 5th St, Spencer)

9:00–10:00 AM, Council Bluffs Legislative Coffee, Area Legislators
Wilson Middle School – Multipurpose Room (715 N 21st St, Council Bluffs)

9:30–11:30 AM, Johnson County League of Women Voters Forum (Health Care), Area Legislators
North Liberty City Council Chambers (5 W Cherry St, North Liberty)

10:00–11:00 AM, Carroll County Forum, Rep. Craig Williams
Western Iowa Networks (1780 Kittyhawk, Carroll)

10:00–11:00 AM, Sioux City Legislative Town Hall, Area Legislators
Sioux City Public Museum (607 4th St, Sioux City)

10:00–11:00 AM, Polk County March Town Hall, Sen. J. Petersen; Reps. Bagniewski & Baeth
Northwest Community Center (5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines)

10:30 AM–12:00 PM, Urbandale Talk with Officials, Area Legislators
Urbandale Chamber of Commerce – Syed Room (2830 100th St Ste. 110, Urbandale)

11:00 AM–12:00 PM, Okoboji Forum, Rep. John Wills
Tweeter’s Bar & Grill (1027 US-71, Okoboji)

11:30 AM–12:30 PM, Storm Lake Legislative Forum, Area Legislators
King’s Pointe Resort (1520 E Lakeshore Dr, Storm Lake)

12:00–1:00 PM, Des Moines Speaking Engagement, Rep. Aime Wichtendahl
Iowa State Capitol (1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines)

3:00–4:00 PM, Marion Coffee with Legislators, Reps. Eric Gjerde & Elizabeth Wilson
Trading Grounds Coffee (917 Barrington Pkwy, Marion)

6:00–7:00 PM, Funding Banquet, Sen. Renee Hardman
Third Party Services (611 Southgate Ave, Iowa City)

Sunday, March 29

11:00 AM–12:00 PM, Okoboji Forum, Rep. John Wills
Tweeter’s Bar & Grill (1027 US-71, Okoboji)

The American Legion’s Legislative Program

The American Legion maintains a fully staffed office in Washington, DC to represent veterans in Congress on all legislation concerning veterans and their families. Additionally, the Department of Iowa has a Legislative Commission to serve as a “watchdog” on all legislation, Federal and State, that affects veterans or The American Legion mandates and programs.

National Legislation

Visit the Grassroots Action Center: https://www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/home

  • Sign up for legislative alerts
  • Find legislation
  • Find & contact your elected officials

State of Iowa Legislation

For Contact Information for your elected representatives: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/find.aspx

Track Legislation in the Iowa General Assembly: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislation/BillTracking/billTrackingTools.aspx