This bill establishes a grant program to fund county veterans service offices and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers. Counties receive a base $7,500 annual grant for outreach, veteran reintegration, and reducing veteran homelessness, plus additional funds up to $20,000 based on their veteran population size (e.g., $10,000 for counties with 10,000-20,000 veterans). The state association gets $160,000 annually - $60,000 specifically for three technical assistance coordinators focused on women veterans, suicide prevention, and justice-involved veterans. The bill appropriates $60,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support these grants, with unspent 2026 funds rolling into 2027.
SF 189 extends Minnesota's existing vehicle tax and fee exemptions for veterans with total service-connected disability to eligible surviving spouses of veterans (known as "Gold Star spouses"). The bill defines a Gold Star spouse as the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while serving honorably in active duty and includes them in the list of individuals exempt from registration taxes, license plate fees, title fees, driver's license fees, and motor vehicle sales taxes. These exemptions apply to up to two vehicles registered by the spouse and take effect for registration periods starting on or after January 1, 2026. The bill does not cover personalized plate fees or special plate donations, which remain subject to standard fees.
SF 388 removes burial fees for spouses and dependents of eligible veterans at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 197.236, subdivision 9, to prohibit charging any fees for these groups' interment, replacing the previous fee schedule and waiver process. It appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these uncompensated burial costs. This directly affects spouses and dependent children of veterans meeting eligibility criteria under U.S. Code, title 38, section 101(2). The policy change eliminates a cost barrier for families of veterans, ensuring no burial fees apply to these specific groups.
HF 1504 appropriates $50,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs. The funds are specifically designated for grants to "Veterans on the Lake" to cover expenses related to veteran retreats. These expenses include therapy, transportation, and customized activities for veterans. The bill directly affects the Veterans on the Lake organization and the veterans participating in their retreat programs.
SF 3024 appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the YMCA of the North. The funds support three specific veteran and military family programs: Military and Veteran Family Retreats, Military Child BOLD and GOLD Outdoor Leadership Program, and Military and Veteran Service Program Discounts. This bill directly affects the YMCA of the North and the veterans, military families, and military children participating in these funded programs.
HF 239 amends Minnesota Statutes section 290A.03, subdivision 3, to explicitly exclude veterans' educational benefits from household income calculations for property tax refunds. This change ensures that veterans receiving tax-exempt educational assistance under U.S. Code Title 38, Section 5301(a) (such as GI Bill benefits) will not have these payments counted when determining eligibility for state property tax refunds. The bill directly affects Minnesota veterans who receive educational benefits, clarifying that these funds won't reduce their refund amount. The amendment updates the statutory definition of "income" to include veterans' educational assistance as a non-inclusive item, aligning with existing federal tax treatment of these benefits.
This bill allows veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) to obtain license fees for fish houses, dark houses, or shelters at no cost. It amends Minnesota law to remove fees for these specific licenses when veterans provide proof of their disability status, such as a driver's license with the designated VA status. The policy directly affects eligible veterans who are Minnesota residents and meet the VA disability criteria. The key mechanism is using existing identification with the VA designation as proof, streamlining access to fee-free licenses for these recreational structures.
This bill requires veterans benefit service providers (who charge fees) to be federally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and to provide written fee agreements complying with federal rules. It prohibits providers from guaranteeing specific benefits (like exact payment amounts or approval rates) to veterans or their families. Providers must also give clients a written disclosure statement explaining free services available through county veterans service officers before charging fees. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense, with fines deposited into a "Support Our Troops" account.
SF 1190 increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill raises the homestead market value exclusion from $150,000 to $375,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $420,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. This directly benefits qualifying veterans, their surviving spouses (if they meet residency and ownership requirements), and primary family caregivers living with the veteran. The policy change modifies Minnesota Statutes § 273.13, subdivision 34, to provide higher tax savings on their primary residence. The exclusion requires application to the local assessor and verification of disability status by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
This bill amends Minnesota's vehicle registration tax law to provide a tax reduction for disabled veterans. It requires that disabled veterans pay only the percentage of the registration tax corresponding to their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., 30% tax for a 30% disability rating), applying to only one vehicle per owner. The law also mandates that the state transfer funds from the general fund to the highway user fund each July 15 to cover the lost tax revenue from these reductions. The policy directly affects disabled veterans who own vehicles in Minnesota, reducing their registration costs based on their VA disability rating.
