Connecticut HB 5298: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS TO PLACE OR MAINTAIN WAR OR VETERANS' MEMORIALS OR MONUMENTS.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5298
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE PROJECTS TO PLACE OR MAINTAIN WAR OR
VETERANS' MEMORIALS OR MONUMENTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) For the fiscal year 1
ending June 30, 2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of 2
Veterans Affairs shall administer a program to provide grants to 3
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services for 4
capital expenditure projects to place or maintain war or veterans' 5
memorials or monuments. 6
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the department shall develop 7
eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such 8
grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a 9
conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description 10
of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such criteria, 11
forms and deadlines. 12
(c) (1) For the purposes described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 13
the State Bond Commission shall have the power from time to time to 14
authorize the issuance of bonds of the state in one or more series and in 15
principal amounts not exceeding in the aggregate two million dollars. 16

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(2) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 17
stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be used by the 18
Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of providing grants to 19
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services for 20
capital expenditure projects under subsection (a) of this section. 21
(3) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 22
of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 23
provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 24
bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 25
section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 26
from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 27
accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 28
time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 29
exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 30
in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 31
Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 32
authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 33
there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 34
by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 35
and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 36
discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 37
be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 38
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 39
interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 40
part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 41
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 42
principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 43
such principal and interest as the same become due. 44
(d) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the 45
department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of 46
section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of 47
the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to veterans' 48
and military affairs. Such report shall include information for the 49
preceding calendar year on the number of applications for grants that 50

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were received, the number of grants that were awarded and a list of the 51
municipalities and nonprofit providers of human or social services that 52
received grants. 53
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

VA Joint Favorable Subst.