Public hearing: bill would reorganize Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee to broaden appointment flexibility

The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee heard testimony Feb. 3 on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541, which would alter the composition of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and give the governor greater flexibility in appointments.

Committee staff summarized the bill, saying it would require the governor to appoint two representatives from veterans homes based on nominations from those homes, reduce the number of seats appointed from nationally recognized veteran service organizations from 10 to 6, and increase at‑large member slots from two to six while directing that appointments reflect military experience, geographic diversity and viewpoints of minority and women veterans.

Representative Abel, the bill's prime sponsor, told the committee the measure had unanimous support in the House in the prior session and again this session and said the changes would broaden the governor's access to advice on veterans' issues. "I am happy and proud to bring House Bill 15 41 before the committee," Abel said. Representative Simmons, a cosponsor, described earlier objections to the bill, recounted outreach to incarcerated veterans and said the revised approach gives the governor discretion to appoint candidates with varied lived experience; Simmons said the sponsors found common ground through interim work with incarcerated veterans.

David Puente, director of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, testified remotely in support on behalf of WDVA and the governor's Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee. Puente said the bill retains the committee size at 17 while freeing appointments from rigid identity labels: "This change will provide more flexibility in appointing Veterans who are willing and eligible to serve," he said, and added the bill permits flexibility to appoint tribal representatives, National Guard members and formerly justice‑involved veterans.

For the hearing record, the vice chair reported 57 pro and 1 con sign‑ins. The committee closed the hearing on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1541 and adjourned for the day.