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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HF 3008 appropriates $250,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $250,000 for fiscal year 2027. The funds will be provided as a grant to Hometown Hero Outdoors, a Stillwater-based nonprofit, to support outdoor recreational activities and mental health services. These services are directly intended for currently serving military personnel and veterans in Minnesota. The bill aims to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life through structured outdoor engagement and access to mental health professionals.
HF 1181 establishes a new special license plate design for Jewish war veterans in Minnesota. The bill amends state law to require that these plates display the inscription "JEWISH WAR VETERANS OF AMERICA" along with a designated emblem approved by the commissioners of veterans affairs and public safety. This plate category directly affects Jewish veterans who qualify under existing eligibility criteria for Minnesota's veteran license plates, such as those who served in specific conflicts or received certain military medals. The bill does not change eligibility requirements but adds this specific design to the state's existing suite of veteran-themed license plates.
This bill restricts how service providers can charge veterans for help with benefits appeals or applications. It prohibits upfront fees, guarantees of success, and compensation exceeding five times the monthly benefit increase. Service providers must get written agreements detailing fees (only paid if benefits increase), avoid using international call centers, and conduct background checks on staff handling veterans' medical/financial data. The bill directly affects veterans seeking assistance with federal or state benefits and the private companies or individuals offering those services. It aims to prevent exploitative practices while clarifying allowable compensation structures.
This bill modifies Minnesota's individual income tax code to clarify that compensation for National Guard and reserve military service qualifies for a tax subtraction. It specifically defines "active service" to include state-activated duty (e.g., disaster response), federally funded service under Title 32, and Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program pay. The change directly affects Minnesota National Guard members, members of neighboring state National Guard units (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin), and other U.S. military reservists performing qualifying service. The policy takes effect for tax years starting after December 31, 2024.
