S. 3185 – ANCHOR for Military Families Act

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Updated December 2, 2025 at 5:41 AM UTC

The ANCHOR for Military Families Act updates the Department of Defense’s relocation assistance rules. It obligates the Secretary of Defense to give service members and their families detailed information about all support programs—housing, employment, education, mental health, and legal aid—at least 45 days before a permanent change of station. The bill also adds specific provisions for children with disabilities and requires regular reporting to Congress on how well the information is being shared and used.

Key Provisions

Amends 10 U.S.C. § 1056 to expand the list of relocation assistance topics, adding detailed guidance on community orientation, education systems, school enrollment, and support for children with disabilities.
Creates a new requirement (subsection (e)) that the Secretary of Defense must give service members and their families information about all relocation assistance programs at least 45 days before a permanent change of station takes effect.
The required information must cover family assistance (financial planning, spouse employment, community integration), housing options, mental‑health and well‑being services, educational resources (including special‑education and school transition help), and legal/financial counseling.
Mandates that this information be provided in accessible briefings and materials both on‑base and online, with a communication strategy to raise awareness and a process to assess family satisfaction.
Requires the Secretary to report annually for three years to the Armed Services committees on how the information is being delivered, how aware families are of the programs, and any recommendations for improvement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 18, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 18, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 18, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued November 18, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3185

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 18, 2025

Mr. Warnock (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to provide information on relocation assistance programs when a member of the Armed Forces receives orders for a change of permanent station, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Assuring Navigation of Compact Help for Ongoing Relocation for Military Families Act or the ANCHOR for Military Families Act.

2.

Provision of Information Regarding Relocation Assistance Programs for Members Receiving Orders for a Change of Permanent Station

(a)

In General

Section 1056 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and community orientation and inserting community orientation, education systems, school enrollment procedures, and State-specific provisions under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;

(B)

in subparagraph (C), by striking and community orientation and inserting community orientation, and educational resources for dependent children, including school transition assistance, academic continuity, and special education services; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(E)

Provision of educational planning and support services for dependent children with disabilities, including procedures for transferring individualized education programs and coordinating with the Exceptional Family Member Program.

;

(2)

by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and

(3)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:

(e)

Provision of Information on Program

(1)

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that members of the Armed Forces and the families of those members are provided information regarding available assistance under this section and any other assistance relating to a change of permanent station available under any other provision of law.

(2)

The Secretary shall ensure that information required to be provided under this subsection is provided to a member of the Armed Forces and the family of that member not later than 45 days before the date on which a change of permanent station takes effect for that member.

(3)

The information provided under this subsection shall include—

(A)

information on family assistance programs authorized under section 1788 of this title, including financial planning resources, spouse employment support, and community integration services;

(B)

guidance on available housing assistance, including on-base housing options, rental protections, and resources for off-base relocation;

(C)

mental health and well-being support services, including those accessible during the period of transition for a change of permanent station;

(D)

educational resources for dependent children, including school transition assistance and special education services;

(E)

information on available legal and financial counseling programs; and

(F)

any other assistance programs that support members of the Armed Forces and their families during relocation.

(4)

The Secretary of Defense shall—

(A)

incorporate the information required to be provided under this subsection into accessible materials and briefings provided to members of the Armed Forces relating to a change of permanent station;

(B)

ensure that the program under this section provides accessible materials and briefings at military installations and through online resources;

(C)

develop a communication strategy, including digital outreach and printed materials, to increase awareness of the program under this section and assistance available under other provisions of law relating to a change of permanent station; and

(D)

assess the satisfaction of members of the Armed Forces and their families with the information provided under this subsection.

.

(b)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three years, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of the amendments made by this section. Such briefing shall include—

(1)

the status of efforts to integrate information required to be provided by subsection (e) of section 1056 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, into accessible materials and briefings provided to members of the Armed Forces and their families relating to a change of permanent station;

(2)

an assessment of the awareness by members of the Armed Forces and their families of available programs in support of a change of permanent station; and

(3)

any recommendations of the Secretary for improving the dissemination of information related to relocation and family assistance programs.