Veterans

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SF 5159: Forest Lake Veterans Memorial prior appropriation of bond proceeds modification

This bill modifies an existing appropriation of $250,000 in bond proceeds to provide a grant to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee. The funds are designated for constructing a memorial honoring veterans of the United States armed forces at Lakeside Memorial Park. By amending the state's capital investment laws, the legislation ensures the financial allocation remains active for this specific project. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's final enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $250,000 in bond proceeds to fund a veterans memorial, directly increasing funding for a public service.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill allocates $250,000 to fund the construction of a veterans memorial, directly recognizing and honoring veteran service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 28, 2026

HF 4171: Imposition of certain fees for residential improvements necessary to accommodate the disability of a veteran prohibited.

This bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from charging fees for residential improvements needed to accommodate a veteran's disability. It directly affects veterans with recognized physical or mental impairments who are making home modifications to meet their disability needs. Under the new law, local governments cannot charge permit, inspection, or licensing fees for these specific improvements, and they cannot deny permits or inspections due to unpaid fees related to such work. Veterans must still submit standard applications and provide proof of their veteran status and disability connection to qualify for the fee waiver. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes financial barriers for veterans making home modifications, protecting housing access and preventing discrimination based on disability.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill removes fees for veterans' disability home modifications, directly supporting veterans' access to necessary accommodations and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 4771: Helping Paws to breed, train, and place service dogs appropriation

This bill allocates $200,000 from Minnesota's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to Helping Paws, Inc. The funding supports the organization's work in breeding, training, and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The appropriation is designated as a one-time honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The bill also allows the commissioner of health to accept private donations to supplement the state funding, with all such donations deposited in a dedicated account that expires on July 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $200,000 from general fund to support service dog training program, directly increasing funding for public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $200,000 to fund service dog programs supporting individuals with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and mental health professionals, directly advancing healthcare access and mental health services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill allocates $200,000 grant to Helping Paws for breeding, training, and placing service dogs for veterans with PTSD, directly supporting veteran services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 4166: Sports activities for children of military personnel and veterans funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill appropriates $100,000 from Minnesota's general fund to support sports programs for children of military personnel and veterans. The funding will be granted to United Heroes League, a nonprofit organization based in Hastings, Minnesota, to provide sports experiences, equipment, camps, and related activities. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2027 and does not establish ongoing funding. The legislation directs the commissioner of veterans affairs to administer the grant to the designated organization.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $100,000 from general fund to fund sports programs for military children, directly advancing budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill appropriates $100,000 to fund sports programs for children of military personnel and veterans, directly supporting veteran-related initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 4228: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport parking fees waived for veteran with total service-connected disability.

This bill would allow veterans with a total service-connected disability to park for free at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for up to ten days within any 90-day period starting in 2027. To qualify, veterans must provide documentation such as a driver's license with a veteran designation, a military ID showing a 100 percent disability rating, or a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming their disability status. The bill requires the airport commission to establish a waiver process by December 2026 and conduct outreach to veterans organizations statewide. Any parking beyond the ten free days would be charged at the standard rate.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides free airport parking for veterans with total service-connected disabilities, expanding benefits and recognizing veteran service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 4894: City of Eagan woman veterans memorial appropriation

This bill allocates $20,000 from the state's general fund to the City of Eagan for the design and construction of a memorial honoring women who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces over the past 250 years. The funds are designated as a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2027 and are managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development, who will provide the grant to the city. The memorial project must be completed or abandoned within the funding period, subject to existing state statutes governing such appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $20,000 from state general fund to fund a veterans memorial project, directly supporting budget appropriations for public services and honoring veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill allocates $20,000 to fund a memorial honoring women veterans, directly supporting veteran recognition and commemoration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Memorials & Recognition

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died · Minnesota · House Apr 23, 2026

HF 3990: Public safety; policy provided for public safety, correctional facilities, investigations, Department of Public Safety data, controlled substances, crime victims, orders for protection, private detective and protective agent licensure, employment disqualifications, sentence adjustments, expungement relief, domestic abuse-related crimes and data, use of chemical irritants, crimes of coercion, retail theft, identity theft, and fraud; reimbursements provided; "battered women" term replaced in statute where it appears; criminal penalties provided; reports required; and rulemaking required.

This bill modifies Minnesota's rules on employment and licensing disqualifications for people with criminal convictions by shifting from an automatic ban to a case-by-case assessment of rehabilitation. It requires employers and licensing agencies to consider evidence such as honorable military discharges, release orders, time served without new convictions, and letters of reference when deciding whether to hire or license someone with a criminal record. Additionally, the bill mandates that if an applicant is denied a job or license due to their criminal history, the authority must provide written notice explaining the reasons, the appeal process, and the earliest date they can reapply. These changes aim to create a more individualized evaluation process while maintaining accountability through required documentation and notification procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes criminal justice reform by replacing automatic employment bans with case-by-case assessments, supporting rehabilitation and reducing barriers for people with convictions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes automatic employment bans for criminal convictions, expanding job access and worker rights through case-by-case assessment of rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill requires employers to consider honorable military discharges and rehabilitation evidence when hiring people with criminal records, supporting veteran employment opportunities.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Professional Licensing Tags Licensing

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 4165: Hastings Bridge designated as "Lieutenant General Edward J. Heinz Memorial Bridge."

This bill designates the Hastings Bridge in Minnesota as the "Lieutenant General Edward J. Heinz Memorial Bridge" to honor a military leader. It directly affects the city of Hastings and the Minnesota Department of Transportation by requiring official signage and a commemorative design on the bridge. The legislation amends state statutes to formally recognize the bridge's new name and mandates the commissioner to implement appropriate markings. This is a commemorative measure that does not change operational rules or funding for the bridge.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill honors a military leader by renaming a bridge, directly recognizing veteran service and contributions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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died · Minnesota · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 4075: Secret War in Laos veterans benefits availability modifications and eligibility process establishment by the commissioner of veterans affairs requirement provision

This bill modifies Minnesota veterans benefits to include veterans of the Secret War in Laos, a group that includes both naturalized Hmong veterans and those who served with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos between 1961 and 1975. It directs the commissioner of veterans affairs to establish an eligibility verification process and issue certificates of eligibility for these veterans to access existing state benefits. The legislation also requires the creation of a fee schedule for burial services and allows fee waivers for indigent eligible applicants. Changes take effect on July 2, 2025, for naturalized veterans and after verification for those who served in guerrilla units, with a driver's license designation option becoming available on November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands veterans benefits to include Secret War in Laos veterans, establishes eligibility verification, and issues certificates of eligibility to access existing state benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SF 4676: Veterans' access to mental health services in rural areas improvement task force establishment and appropriation

This bill establishes a task force within the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to mental health services for veterans living in rural areas. The task force will be responsible for reviewing current challenges and developing recommendations to address veterans' mental health needs in these regions. Funding is allocated to support the task force's operations over three fiscal years, with the exact amounts to be determined later. The legislation directly affects rural veterans and the state veterans affairs agency tasked with their care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates funding for a task force to improve veterans' mental health services in rural areas, directly supporting government spending on public services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes task force to improve mental health access for rural veterans and allocates funding over three fiscal years.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes task force to improve mental health access for rural veterans and allocates funding for operations over three fiscal years.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Mental Health Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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