Laos war; veterans benefits relating to the Secret War in Laos modified, veterans affairs commissioner directed to establish an eligibility process, technical changes made, appropriation canceled, and money appropriated.

This bill expands state veterans benefits to include Minnesota residents who served in the Secret War in Laos, specifically those who were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act or who served honorably with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos between 1961 and 1975. The legislation directs the commissioner of veterans affairs to create an eligibility verification process and issue certificates of eligibility for these veterans, granting them access to benefits such as veteran designation on driver's licenses, civil service recruitment opportunities, employment preference, and burial fee waivers. The bill also allows the commissioner to establish a fee schedule for interment of eligible spouses and dependents of these veterans, with provisions for fee waivers for indigent applicants. Technical changes are made to existing statutes to incorporate these new definitions and benefits, with an effective date of July 2, 2025 for most provisions.