HB 5415 — AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Last action — TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
8 added · 150 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill HB 5415 involved updating language for clarity and consistency throughout the document. Notably, references were changed from "Veterans' Healthcare Ombudsman" to "Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman" to better reflect the scope of the role. Additionally, phrases were reworded to enhance understanding, such as changing "veterans' health care" to "the health care of veterans, members of the armed forces and their families." These changes are important because they help ensure that the language of the bill accurately represents the services provided and the groups it aims to support.
House of Representatives General Assembly FileSubstitute Bill No.
1515415 February Session, 2026 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillESTABLISHING No.A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
5415 House of Representatives, March 24, 2026 The Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs reported through REP.
FOSTER of the 57th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) There is established an Office of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman, which shall be within the Office of the Healthcare Advocate for administrative purposes only, to (1) coordinate with various resources, including, but not limited to, veterans' service officers and municipal veterans representatives, in assisting veterans who are eligible to receive health care through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and caregivers of such veterans, with navigating the health care system administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, (2) coordinate with various resources in assisting active and retired members of the armed forces and National Guard and the families of sHB5415suchmemberswho /areeligibletoreceive Filehealthcare No.throughtheUnited States Department of Defense, and caregivers of such members and families, with navigating the health care system administered by the United States Department of Defense, and (3) advocate for increased coordination among such various resources when deficiencies in such coordination are identified.
151The Governor shall appoint a Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman, who shall be selected from among LCO 1 sHB5415of File3 Substitute Bill No.
1515415 suchmemberswhoindividuals areeligibletoreceivewith healthcareexpertise throughtheUnited States Department of Defense, and caregiversexperience ofin sucha membersfield andconcerning families, with navigating the health care systemof administeredveterans, bymembers of the Unitedarmed Statesforces Department of Defense, and (3)their advocatefamilies, forto increasedhead coordinationthe amongoffice. such various resources when deficiencies in such coordination are identified.
The Governor shall appoint a Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman, who shall be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience in a field concerning the health care of veterans, members of the armed forces and their families, to head the office.
(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal laws, regulations and policies relating to the health care systems administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and sHB5415the /United FileStates No.Department of Defense and recommend any changes the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman deems necessary;
151 2 sHB5415 File No.
151 the United States Department of Defense and recommend any changes the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman deems necessary;
and (7)LCO Take2 any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the3 OfficeSubstitute ofBill theNo. Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman and the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman as set forth in this subsection.
5415 (7) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman and the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman as set forth in this subsection.
Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section sHB5415VA /Joint FileFavorable No.Subst.
151APP 3Joint sHB5415Favorable FileLCO No.3 of 3
151 Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Throughout the section, references to "Veterans' Healthcare Ombudsman" were changed to "Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman", for consistency with other provisions of the section;
in the last sentence of Subsec.
(a), "veterans' health care" was changed to "the health care of veterans, members of the armed forces and their families,", for consistency and clarity;
in Subsec.
(b)(3), "as applicable" was added, for clarity;
in Subsec.
(b)(5), "system" was changed to "systems" and "Affairs or" was changed to "Affairs and", for accuracy;
and in Subsec.
(c), "military personnel health" was changed to "military health", for consistency, and ", respectively," was deleted, for clarity.
VA Joint Favorable Subst.
sHB5415 / File No.
151 4 sHB5415 File No.
151 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Healthcare Advocate, Off.
IF - Cost 130,500 257,000 Note:
IF=Insurance Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill, which establishes an Office of the Veterans' and Military Healthcare Ombudsman within the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, results in a cost to the Insurance Fund of $130,500 in FY 27 and $257,000 in FY 28 and annually thereafter associated with the new position.
The bill requires the Ombudsman to help veterans and their caregivers navigate the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, as well as establish and maintain a veterans' and military health care education course.
The annualized cost for the new position is expected to be $138,000 in salary and $119,000 in fringe benefits beginning in FY 28.
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Half-year personnel costs in FY 27 are expected to be $69,000 and $59,500 respectively, reflecting a six-month search and appointment with a start date of January 1, 2027.
Other expenses for the new position are expected to total $2,000 in FY 27 for a laptop and related supplies.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
sHB5415 / File No.
151 5 sHB5415 File No.
151 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5415 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SUMMARY This bill establishes an Office of the Veterans’ and Military Healthcare Ombudsman within the Office of the Healthcare Advocate (OHA) for administrative purposes (see BACKGROUND) to:
1.
coordinate with various resources, including veterans’ service officers and municipal veterans’ representatives, to help veterans eligible for health care through the U.
S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) and their caregivers navigate the USDVA health care system;
2.
coordinate with various resources to help active and retired members of the armed forces and National Guard and their families, who are eligible for health care through the U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD), and their caregivers with navigating the DOD health care system;
and 3.
advocate for more coordination among these resources when it is lacking.
The bill requires the veterans’ and military healthcare ombudsman (whom the governor appoints) to establish and maintain a veterans’ and military health care education course by October 1, 2027.
The ombudsman must do so within available appropriations and in consultation with the state’s veterans affairs commissioner and adjutant general.
Under the bill, the course must include educational sHB5415 / File No.
151 6 sHB5415 File No.
151 presentations and material about the USDVA and DOD health care systems and state and local resources available to eligible people and caregivers.
The bill also requires the veterans’ and military healthcare ombudsman to annually report to the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee beginning by January 1, 2028, on (1) the implementation of the bill’s requirements and (2) legislative recommendations for improving the implementation.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2026 OFFICE OF THE VETERANS’ AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN Ombudsman Selection Under the bill, the governor appoints the ombudsman, selecting someone with expertise and experience in the healthcare of veterans, armed forces members, and their families.
Office’s Duties The bill requires the Office of the Veterans’ and Military Healthcare Ombudsman to do the following:
1.
receive, review, and try to resolve complaints from eligible people and caregivers regarding obstacles to applying for or getting health care through the USDVA or DOD (including difficulties in accessing help from existing state and municipal resources);
2.
compile and analyze data on these complaints;
3.
help eligible people and caregivers understand their rights and responsibilities under the USDVA or DOD health care systems;
4.
give information to the public, agencies, legislators, and others about the problems and concerns of eligible people and caregivers and make recommendations for resolving them;
sHB5415 / File No.
151 7 sHB5415 File No.
151 5.
analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal laws, regulations, and policies relating to the USDVA or DOD health care systems and recommend any changes the ombudsman decides are necessary;
6.
communicate information about the office’s availability to help eligiblepeopleandcaregiverswiththeirhealthcareconcerns;and 7.
take any other actions necessary to fulfill the duties of the Office of the Veterans’ and Military Healthcare Ombudsman and, specifically, those of the ombudsman.
BACKGROUND Office of the Healthcare Advocate The healthcare advocate directs OHA, which is within the Insurance Department for administrative purposes.
The advocate, who is appointed by the governor and subject to legislative approval, must be a state elector with expertise and experience in healthcare, health insurance, and consumer advocacy who has not served as a director or officer of a managed care organization (for example, an insurer) within two years of appointment (CGS § 38a-1042).
The office helps health insurance consumers (1) select managed care plans by providing information and assistance, (2) understand their rights and responsibilities under managed care plans, and (3) file complaintsandappeals withmanaged care organizations.Among other things, OHA also (1) gives information to the public, agencies, and legislators on problems and concerns of health insurance consumers and (2) reviews consumers’ health insurance records and, with their consent, pursues administrative remedies on their behalf (CGS § 38a- 1041).
COMMITTEE ACTION Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 22 Nay 0 (03/10/2026) sHB5415 / File No.
151 8
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View plain text versions (4)
- APP Joint Favorable View text pdf
- File No. 151 View text pdf
- Raised Bill View text Current pdf
- Substitute VA Joint Favorable Substitute pdf
Action History
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TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR
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NO NEW FILE BY COMM. ON Appropriations
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RPTD. OUT OF LCO
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FILED WITH LCO
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Joint Favorable
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REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Appropriations
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FILE NO. 151
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HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 130
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FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR
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RPTD. OUT OF LCO
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REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/23/26
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FILED WITH LCO
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Joint Favorable Substitute
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PUBLIC HEARING 0303
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REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Veterans' and Military Affairs
Sponsors
- Iris N Sanchez · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Iris N Sanchez Democratic
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (186)
186 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 186 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 5415?
- HB 5415 is sponsored by Iris N Sanchez (Democratic).
- What is the current status of HB 5415?
- This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 26, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track HB 5415?
- Track HB 5415 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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