S. 4815 – CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 25, 2026 at 4:22 AM UTC

The bill makes permanent the Department of Veterans Affairs’ pilot program that lets the VA accept donated facilities and related improvements. It also authorizes the VA to accept donations of construction services, minor construction, non‑recurring maintenance projects, and targeted contributions when they match the VA’s capital‑planning needs. The changes affect the VA, eligible donors, and veterans who will benefit from upgraded facilities.

Key Provisions

Removes the “pilot” label, turning the VA’s donation‑acceptance program into a permanent authority.
Updates the criteria so donations must align with a strategic capital investment priority list, five‑year plan, facility master plan, or annual capital needs inventory.
Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to accept donated construction services, minor construction, and non‑recurring maintenance projects, as well as targeted financial contributions.
Sets conditions for acceptance, including alignment with identified needs, eligibility of the donor, and that the donation accelerates completion, reduces costs, improves conditions, or otherwise benefits veterans; requires a formal agreement covering oversight, code compliance, insurance, cost limits, and other terms.
Requires streamlined agreements for non‑real‑property donations, mandates donor responsibility for environmental/historic due diligence and permits, and adds reporting of these donations in the VA’s existing capital‑project reports.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

June 17, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 17, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

June 17, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 17, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4815

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 17, 2026

Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Mr. Ricketts) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To permanently extend the pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs on acceptance by the Department of donated facilities and related improvements and to authorize acceptance of donations of construction services, minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects, and targeted contributions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2026 or the CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2026.

2.

Permanent extension of pilot program on acceptance by the Department of Veterans affairs of donated facilities and related improvements

(a)

In general

Section 2 of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amended—

(1)

in the section heading, by striking Pilot;

(2)

in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by striking Pilot;

(3)

by striking pilot each place it appears;

(4)

by striking subsection (i); and

(5)

by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (i).

(b)

Modification of acceptance of property

Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(1)

the donation aligns with—

(A)

a need identified in a Strategic Capital Investment Planning process priority list, a five-year development plan, a facility master plan, or an annual capital needs inventory of the Department; or

(B)

any component or phase of a need described in paragraph (1); and

.

3.

Authority to accept donations of construction services, minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects, and targeted contributions

(a)

Authority

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may accept donations comprising the total cost or a portion of the cost of—

(1)

minor construction projects;

(2)

nonrecurring maintenance projects; or

(3)

construction services relating—

(A)

to minor construction projects;

(B)

to nonrecurring maintenance projects;

(C)

to an existing facility of the Department; or

(D)

to a new facility or portion thereof of the Department.

(b)

Alignment to needs

The Secretary may accept a donation under this section only if—

(1)

the donation aligns with—

(A)

a need identified in a Strategic Capital Investment Planning process priority list, a five-year development plan, a facility master plan, or an annual capital needs inventory of the Department; or

(B)

any component or phase of a need described in subparagraph (A);

(2)

the donation is from an entity described in section 2(a)(2) of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note);

(3)

the Secretary determines such donation would—

(A)

accelerate project completion;

(B)

reduce the expense to the Department;

(C)

improve facility condition; or

(D)

otherwise benefit veterans; and

(4)

the donor enters into a formal agreement with the Secretary that includes—

(A)

provisions for the Department’s oversight during performance;

(B)

compliance with applicable construction codes and standards, and applicable laws and regulations;

(C)

donor-provided insurance, warranties, and liability protections;

(D)

the amount of the donation and the amount of the Department’s funding contribution, if any;

(E)

that the donation shall not increase the cost to the Federal Government of completing such project described in subsection (a) (excluding activation and sustainment of such facility); and

(F)

such other terms as the Secretary determines necessary.

(c)

Streamlined requirements

For donations under this section that do not involve transfer of real property title—

(1)

the donor shall enter into an agreement with the Department that determines who is responsible to ensure environmental or historic preservation due diligence is completed;

(2)

the donor shall obtain all federally required construction and facility related permits; and

(3)

agreements may be simplified relative to those under section 2 of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note) to reflect the nature of services or targeted contributions.

(d)

Reporting

The Secretary shall include information on donations accepted under this section in the reports required under section 2(g) of the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–294; 38 U.S.C. 8103 note), with separate tracking for donations under this section.