Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2026

This bill aims to significantly improve mental health care access for veterans by directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a minimum number of Vet Centers in each State. Within one year of the Act's enactment, the Secretary must ensure that every State meets this new minimum requirement. A "covered Vet Center" is defined as a facility open for services at least eight hours per day, five days a week, with allowances for temporary closures due to holidays, weather, or other emergencies. The minimum number of Vet Centers is determined by different criteria based on the State's location. For non-contiguous States, including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, the minimum is the greater of one Vet Center or the number present on January 1, 2020. For contiguous States, the minimum is the greater of one Vet Center per 30,000 square miles of land area or one Vet Center per 55,000 veterans, based on the most recent census data. To meet these requirements, the Secretary is authorized to establish additional centers, including utilizing facilities provided by state or local governments, and may establish Vet Center outstations in lieu of full Vet Centers for some of the additional required facilities.