Veterans

SF 674 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. The funds are designated for a grant to Hometown Hero Outdoors, a Stillwater-based nonprofit, to provide outdoor recreational activities combined with mental health services. This program directly supports currently serving military personnel and veterans across Minnesota, aiming to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life through structured outdoor engagement. The bill focuses on funding a specific existing nonprofit's services rather than creating new state programs or regulations.

HF 2749 appropriates $1 million from the environment and natural resources trust fund for a one-time grant to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funding is specifically for predesigning, designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping a new shooting range and retreat facility. This project aims to accommodate handicapped individuals and disabled veterans, with the appropriation available until the project is completed or abandoned. The bill directly affects the nonprofit recipient and the intended beneficiaries of the facility.

This bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs. It creates a grant program for Independent Lifestyles, Inc., to operate retreats at Camp Bliss in Walker for eligible veterans and their family members. The grant covers therapy, transportation, activities, and camp maintenance, with the commissioner reimbursing the grant recipient at least $850 per eligible attendee per visit (up to two visits yearly). Eligible veterans include those with a DD-214 or current military members, and family members include spouses, domestic partners, or children.

SF 616 appropriates $6,000 for fiscal year 2026 to provide $1,200 bonuses to eligible Minnesota service members who did not receive prior bonuses under Minnesota Statutes §197.79 but have a DD214 confirming qualifying service. It directly affects veterans whose military service meets specific criteria outlined in state law, requiring them to submit documentation to the Veterans Affairs commissioner by December 31, 2028. The funds are available until June 20, 2029, and are intended to supplement existing bonus programs for qualifying service. This bill creates a new payment mechanism for veterans meeting defined service requirements, without altering existing eligibility rules.