Veterans

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 5, 2026

HF 1855: Veterans benefit services federal accreditation required, service providers guarantees of benefits prohibited, and remedies and civil penalties provided.

Minnesota bill HF 1855 requires veterans benefits service providers (who charge fees) to be federally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It prohibits these providers from guaranteeing specific benefits or benefit amounts to veterans or their families. The bill mandates written disclosure statements and fee agreements before services are provided, and establishes civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. This directly affects veterans seeking assistance with benefits appeals and the service providers offering those services.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill protects veterans from deceptive practices by requiring federal accreditation, prohibiting benefit guarantees, and mandating disclosures for service providers, safeguarding veterans' access to benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SF 1705: Veterans burial provisions modifications

This bill modifies Minnesota's veterans burial laws to clarify eligibility and adjust burial fees. It eliminates all burial fees for service members who died on active duty and eligible veterans (as defined by federal law), while requiring the Veterans Affairs commissioner to set fee schedules covering actual interment costs (excluding plot value) for spouses and dependent children. The bill also mandates a clear policy for waiving or reducing fees for indigent eligible applicants. These changes directly affect veterans, their families, and state-operated cemeteries by ensuring cost-free burial for veterans and creating structured fee management.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEliminates burial fees for veterans/deceased service members, mandates fee waivers for indigent applicants, and covers actual interment costs for families - directly expanding access to burial benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 231: Veterans Campground improvement funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 231 appropriates $1.3 million from the general fund for one-time improvements to wastewater infrastructure at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake in Washington County. The funds are directed to the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association to design, construct, and install this infrastructure. The bill specifically targets infrastructure upgrades at the campground, with the funds available until project completion or abandonment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.3M from general fund for veterans campground infrastructure, directly funding a public service project under Veterans Affairs.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill appropriates $1.3M for veterans' campground infrastructure upgrades, directly funding a facility serving veterans via Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 27, 2025

SF 3090: Military pay and allowances modifications; pension offset stipends establishment

This bill establishes a pension offset stipend for Minnesota military service members called into state active duty. It requires the adjutant general to pay eligible service members a stipend equal to 5% of their basic pay during state service, compensating for pension inequities compared to similar federal service. The stipend applies specifically to members ordered into state active service under Governor authority, not to federal deployments. This change modifies Minnesota Statutes section 192.49, adding a new provision (subd. 2a) to address gaps in pension benefits for state-ordered service. It does not alter base pay rates ($130/day minimum or federal equivalent) but adds this targeted compensation.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes stipend to compensate pension inequities for state military service, directly enhancing financial benefits for service members transitioning to veteran status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 17, 2025

HF 492: Currently serving military personnel and veterans provided funding for mental health services and outdoor activities, and money appropriated.

HF 492 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund mental health services and outdoor recreational activities for currently serving military personnel and veterans in Minnesota. The funds are directed to Hometown Hero Outdoors, a Stillwater-based nonprofit, to support programs promoting mental wellness, community interaction with professionals, and quality of life through outdoor engagement. This bill specifically provides dedicated funding for an existing nonprofit's established services rather than creating new state programs. It directly affects military members and veterans by expanding access to mental health support and outdoor activities through this designated organization. The appropriation is limited to these specific fiscal years and services as outlined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $500,000 total from general fund for veteran mental health/outdoor programs, directly funding a public service via state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health services for veterans via dedicated appropriation, directly advancing healthcare access for a vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds $500k (2026-2027) for veteran mental health/outdoor programs via nonprofit Hometown Hero Outdoors, directly advancing wellness services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 1, 2025

HF 2773: Lutheran Social Services CORE program funding provided, reports required, and money appropriated.

HF 2773 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund Lutheran Social Services' CORE program. The funding supports home-delivered meals for Minnesota veterans outside Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, along with technical assistance and outreach services for participating programs. The bill requires annual reports by September 1 detailing how funds were used and the number of veterans served. This one-time appropriation ensures direct support for veterans' meal access and program coordination, with transparency through mandatory reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $500k annually from general fund for veterans' meal program, directly funding an essential public service per appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds home-delivered meals and outreach for veterans via CORE program, directly advancing veteran services as required by the bill's appropriation and reporting requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 6, 2025

HF 1783: Legion of Merit special license plates authorized.

HF 1783 authorizes Minnesota to issue free special license plates for residents who have received the Legion of Merit military award. The bill allows eligible veterans to obtain these plates for personal-use vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, or RVs) without paying registration fees or replacement costs. Plates can be transferred between vehicles owned by the same person, but must be used only for non-commercial purposes. This is a procedural change to Minnesota's license plate program, effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes free special license plates for Legion of Merit recipients, removing fees as recognition benefit for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SF 1869: City of Forest Lake veterans memorial appropriation

This bill appropriates $275,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for a veterans memorial in Forest Lake. The funds will be granted to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee to construct a memorial honoring U.S. armed forces veterans at Lakeside Memorial Park. The bill directly affects the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee and the city of Forest Lake, providing specific funding for this project in fiscal year 2026. It is a procedural appropriation bill with no new policy requirements beyond the funding allocation.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill appropriates $275,000 specifically for a veterans memorial honoring U.S. armed forces veterans, directly recognizing service through funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 631: Veterans with disability market value exclusion modified.

HF 631 modifies Minnesota's property tax exclusion for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It increases the exclusion amount from $150,000 to $300,000 for veterans with a 100% permanent disability (certified by the VA), calculated as 1.5 times the statewide median homestead value. The bill also extends this $300,000 exclusion to a surviving spouse who owns the homestead, resides there permanently, and meets VA certification requirements after the veteran's death. To qualify, veterans or spouses must apply annually by December 31 and notify assessors of ownership or residency changes. This directly affects veterans with 100% disability, their surviving spouses, and primary family caregivers of eligible veterans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases property tax exclusion for veterans with disabilities, reducing their tax burden - direct tax relief for qualifying veterans per bill's explicit modification.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransIncreases property tax exclusion from $150k to $300k for veterans with 100% disability, expanding financial benefits and extending coverage to surviving spouses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 26, 2025

HF 753: Licensed veterans organizations authorized to use gross profits from lawful gambling for repair, maintenance, or improvement of real property.

HF 753 allows licensed veterans organizations in Minnesota to use gross profits from lawful gambling for repairing, maintaining, or improving their buildings. Specifically, it amends Minnesota law to permit these organizations to cover costs like water, fuel, electricity, and sewer expenses for their primary headquarters buildings. This change directly affects veterans groups operating legal gambling activities under state licensing. The policy expands their allowable uses of gambling revenue beyond previous restrictions, focusing on facility upkeep rather than other community programs.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllows veterans orgs to use gambling profits for building maintenance, enabling better facility upkeep and operational support for veteran services.85% confidence

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