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.
SF 1616 allocates $5 million from the general fund for a veteran mentorship program targeting Black youth in Minnesota. The bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to fund an organization that will employ veterans to mentor Black youth, aiming to prevent youth violence and help participants explore military careers. The funding is specifically broken down: $1.5 million for veteran mentor salaries, $2 million for community outreach and education, $1 million for youth engagement activities, and $500,000 for program administration. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, directly affecting Black youth through structured mentorship and career exploration opportunities.
This bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds will be used to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a new accessible shooting range and retreat facility specifically for disabled veterans and handicapped individuals. The appropriation is one-time and available until the project is completed or abandoned. It directly affects the nonprofit organization and its target beneficiaries through dedicated capital funding for accessibility-focused infrastructure.
This bill (SF 3302) amends Minnesota Statutes section 137.375 to request that the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska provide free, unlimited entry to disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner of veterans affairs as having a permanent service-connected disability, plus one guest. To qualify, the veteran must present a photo ID card marked "service-connected" verifying their disability status. The provision directly affects disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities who visit the Chaska Arboretum, ensuring they and a guest receive complimentary access.
HF 1514 appropriates $400,000 annually from the general fund for the Veterans Resilience Project to provide eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. It directly serves veterans, veterans' spouses, active military service members, and their spouses diagnosed with PTSD or trauma. The bill requires the project to submit annual reports by January 15 to the commissioner of veterans affairs and relevant legislative committees, detailing program spending, participants served, and services provided. This funding and reporting mechanism ensures targeted mental health support for military-connected individuals while maintaining transparency.
HF 532 appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for veteran retreats at Camp Bliss in Walker. The funds reimburse Independent Lifestyles, Inc. $850 per eligible veteran or family member per visit (up to two visits yearly) for services like therapy, transportation, and camp maintenance. Eligible veterans include former service members with a DD-214 or current military members, and their spouses, domestic partners, or children. This bill directly provides funding for retreat programs supporting veterans and their families through a specific reimbursement mechanism.
