A bill for an act relating to county veterans services and making appropriations.

This bill establishes a statewide "Veterans Services Excellence Fund" to support county veterans service offices. It requires county staff to obtain federal certifications and access credentials within 12 months of hire, mandates use of a new electronic claim system for all VA benefit applications, and sets performance-based funding allocations. The fund receives $990,000 annually from the state general fund plus $300,000 from lottery funds, with money distributed to counties for training, accreditation, and maintaining the electronic system. Counties must report on fund usage and face reimbursement if they fail to meet VA application standards. The bill directly affects county veterans service offices and their staff in Iowa.