HF 2306 appropriates $40,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to Lake County to plan a veterans memorial park honoring U.S. military veterans. The bill directly affects Lake County (as the grant recipient) and Minnesota veterans (as the honorees of the memorial). Key provisions include the specific funding amount, the purpose of planning the memorial park, and the requirement that funds be used solely to recognize and honor veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no additional policy mechanisms beyond the grant.
This bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide a grant to Lutheran Social Services' CORE program. The funds support home-delivered meals for Minnesota veterans outside Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, along with technical assistance, outreach, and volunteer recruitment for member programs. Unspent funds from 2026 carry over to 2027. The CORE program must submit annual reports by September 1st detailing fund usage and the number of veterans served.
This bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $50,000 for fiscal year 2027 to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds are designated for expenses related to veteran retreats, including transportation and customized activities. The commissioner of veterans affairs must submit annual reports detailing how the grant money was used, including administrative costs, to legislative committees by January 15 each year. This bill directly supports veterans participating in the nonprofit's retreat programs through financial assistance.
HF 2682 appropriates $6,000 from Minnesota's general fund to provide a $1,200 bonus to eligible veterans who served in qualifying campaigns under Minnesota law but did not receive a bonus under existing provisions (Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79). Veterans must submit military discharge documents (DD214) confirming their service to the state veterans affairs commissioner by December 31, 2028, to qualify for the payment. The funds are available until June 20, 2029, to cover eligible bonus payments. This bill directly affects veterans meeting specific service criteria who were previously excluded from bonus eligibility under current state law.
HF 673 appropriates $50,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a veterans memorial in Howard Lake, Minnesota. The city of Howard Lake will receive a grant from the state veterans affairs office to construct, furnish, and equip the memorial. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $50,000 in bonds to cover this cost, following standard state bond procedures.
SF 866 requires Minnesota's commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans upon request from county veterans service officers or approved veterans organizations. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.23, making the provision of markers mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") within available funds. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these markers, which must permanently mark veterans' graves within Minnesota. This directly affects veterans' families and the commissioner's office by establishing a funded process for grave markers.
SF 3024 appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the YMCA of the North. The funds support three specific veteran and military family programs: Military and Veteran Family Retreats, Military Child BOLD and GOLD Outdoor Leadership Program, and Military and Veteran Service Program Discounts. This bill directly affects the YMCA of the North and the veterans, military families, and military children participating in these funded programs.
SF 3387 allocates $50,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide emergency assistance to veterans through the nonprofit organization Every Third Saturday. This one-time appropriation requires the organization to submit annual reports by September 1, 2026, and 2027, detailing how the funds were used and the number of veterans served. The reports must be provided to Minnesota’s commissioner of veterans affairs and relevant legislative committees. The bill directly affects veterans receiving emergency aid and the nonprofit managing the program.
This bill establishes an "outdoor recreation endorsement" sticker for Minnesota license plates, allowing motor vehicles to access state parks and recreation areas over 50 acres. Vehicle owners would need this endorsement (or a dedicated state parks plate) to enter these areas, with fees collected funding park maintenance. The endorsement would be added to standard plates, and revenue would go to the natural resources fund. Veterans with service-connected disabilities would be exempt from the endorsement fee, as specified in existing law. The provision takes effect January 1, 2027.
HF 2409 modifies Minnesota's state veterans cemetery eligibility rules to explicitly include honorably discharged National Guard members and reserve component service members alongside active-duty personnel and veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.236 to expand the definition of eligible individuals under the burial program. It also appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover costs associated with this expanded eligibility. The change directly affects National Guard and reserve veterans who were previously excluded from the defined eligibility criteria under state law.
