ALABAMA VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER ACT ADVANCES TOWARD NATIONAL ALEC MODEL POLICY

Task Force advances Alabama-based model legislation to ALEC board of directors after presentation highlighting successful Veterans Resource Center initiative

An Alabama law designed to better connect veterans, transitioning service members, military families, and caregivers with the resources and support they have earned took one step closer last week to becoming a model for states across the nation.

State Rep. Kenneth Paschal (R - Pelham), who serves as vice chair of the Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, traveled to Orlando, Florida to present proposed model legislation during the American Legislative Exchange Council's 53rd Annual Meeting, held July 22–24.

"This legislation is about people-not programs," Paschal said. "Alabama has proven that when government agencies, veteran service organizations, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and private-sector partners work together, veterans receive better outcomes."

The group, commonly known as ALEC, is a national, nonpartisan membership organization that brings together state legislators and private-sector members to develop and share model public policy, drawing on successful state experiences and guided by the principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism.

The proposed model legislation sponsored Paschal and co-sponsored by State Rep. Ed Oliver (R - Dadeville), who chairs the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, draws directly from Alabama's Veterans Resource Center Act (Act 2025-20).

During the presentation before the ALEC Veterans & Military Affairs Task Force, Paschal highlighted implementation of the law through Mission Forward Alabama, sharing the early success of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center as model for connecting veterans and military families with existing resources across the state.

Alabama's early results include connecting 72 veteran programs, servicing 783 veterans and family members, establishing a statewide referral network, and growing statewide partnerships among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, veteran service organizations, faith-based organizations, and private-sector partners.

Following Paschal's presentation and discussion, the ALEC Veterans & Military Affairs Task Force voted to approve the Veteran Resource Center Act and advance it to the group's board of directors for final consideration.

If approved by the board, Alabama's law will become official ALEC model policy, providing states with a proven framework for strengthening collaboration among organizations serving veterans, transitioning service members, military families, and caregivers.

"It was an honor to share our state's experience and the early success of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center with the members of the Veterans & Military Affairs Task Force, and I appreciate their support in advancing this proposal to the ALEC board of directors for final consideration," Paschal said.

Paschal noted that the proposal reflects Alabama's commitment to ensuring veterans and their families can more easily access the benefits, services, and support they have earned through military service while maximizing existing public and private resources rather than creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

About the Alabama Veterans Resource Center

The Alabama Veterans Resource Center serves as a statewide collaborative network connecting veterans, transitioning service members, military families, and caregivers with federal, state, local, nonprofit, faith-based, and private-sector resources.

Qualifying individuals interested in learning more about available services or partnership opportunities are encouraged to visit http://www.MissionForwardAL.org.

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