HF 2444 is a Minnesota state budget bill that allocates funding for military and veterans services. It provides $30 million for Military Affairs (2026) and $33.5 million (2027), plus $141.9 million for Veterans Affairs (2026) and $146.7 million (2027), including $111.3 million for veterans health care. The bill requires new reporting on federal Medicare reimbursements for veterans homes, allocates $550,000 annually for suicide prevention programs, and mandates a memorial plaque for Gold Star and Blue Star families at the State Capitol. These provisions directly affect Minnesota veterans, military families, and state agencies managing veterans' benefits and facilities.
This bill appropriates $497,500 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to provide home-delivered meals to veterans through Metro Meals on Wheels. It also funds technical assistance, enrollment support, and volunteer recruitment for the program’s member organizations. Metro Meals on Wheels must report annually by September 1st on how the funds were used and the number of veterans and service members served. The funding is a one-time allocation, not an ongoing appropriation.
This bill increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the homestead exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. Qualifying veterans must have an honorable discharge (via DD214) and VA certification of their disability rating. The exclusion also extends to primary family caregivers of veterans and surviving spouses who meet specific ownership and residency requirements.
SF 1012 appropriates $1.3 million from the general fund for wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake in Washington County. The funds are designated for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association to design, construct, and install new sewage systems at the campground. This one-time appropriation is available until project completion or abandonment, as specified in Minnesota law. The bill directly affects the campground's operations and the veterans who use it, with no broader policy changes beyond this specific infrastructure project.
HF 1192 appropriates $16.6 million from state bond proceeds to fund the design, construction, and equipment for Hastings' Eastern Water Treatment Plant. The bill directly affects the City of Hastings and the Minnesota Veterans Home, which will be interconnected to the new plant. Key provisions include authorizing the state to issue bonds up to $16.6 million and requiring the plant to remove PFAS chemicals and nitrates from drinking water. This is a funding mechanism for a specific infrastructure project, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
SF 920 appropriates $1.3 million from the general fund for one-time improvements at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake in Washington County. The funds will be granted to the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association to design, construct, and install new wastewater infrastructure at the campground. This bill directly affects the campground's operations and the veterans who use it, by upgrading essential facilities. The appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per state funding rules.
HF 194 increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities by raising the exclusion amount for their homesteads. It raises the exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans who died while serving or with a total disability also gain eligibility for the higher $400,000 exclusion if they continue living in the home. This directly affects veterans with VA-certified disabilities and their eligible spouses, reducing their property tax burden on their primary residence. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 273.13, subdivision 34.
SF 489 removes burial fees for spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 190.19 (relating to Department of Veterans Affairs funding) and 197.236 (regarding burial fees) to prohibit charging these fees. Currently, families paid fees for interment, but this bill eliminates that cost entirely for qualifying spouses and dependents. The change directly affects veterans' families seeking burial in state cemeteries, removing a financial barrier. The bill does not affect burial fees for veterans themselves, as those are already prohibited under existing law.
HF 833 creates a new special license plate design for Minnesota veterans who received the Army of Occupation Medal. It amends Minnesota Statutes to add "ARMY OF OCCUPATION VET" as a plate inscription under existing veteran plate provisions. To qualify, veterans must provide certified discharge papers showing honorable service and receipt of the Army of Occupation Medal, and own eligible non-commercial vehicles. This bill specifically affects veterans with this medal, not all veterans, and adds a technical amendment to the existing plate system without changing fees or application requirements.
HF 1033 creates tax and fee exemptions for surviving spouses of veterans who died while serving honorably in active duty (defined as "Gold Star spouses"). It eliminates registration taxes, license plate fees, title fees, driver's license/ID card fees, and motor vehicle sales taxes for these spouses on up to two vehicles. The bill amends Minnesota statutes to include this exemption in vehicle registration (section 168.012), driver's license processing (section 171.06), and sales tax provisions (section 297B.03). Exemptions exclude personalized plate fees and special plate donations, and the law takes effect January 1, 2026.
