SF 4026 establishes standards for Minnesota's Department of Veterans Affairs competitive grants. It requires nonprofit organizations applying for these grants to be Minnesota-based, operating for at least five years, in good standing with the Attorney General, and have a current IRS Form 990. The bill limits grant funds to services for Minnesota veterans, their immediate family members (spouses or children under 22), or families of veterans who died in service, prioritizing veterans with health disabilities. Grantees must submit annual reports on service metrics, and the department must develop a scoring system based on past veteran service outcomes.
HF 3684 establishes rules for Minnesota's competitive grants administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires nonprofits applying for these grants to be Minnesota-based, operating for at least five years, in good standing with the Attorney General, and with a current IRS Form 990. Grants can only fund services for Minnesota veterans, their immediate family members (spouses or children under 22), or families of veterans who died in service, with priority given to veterans with health disabilities. Nonprofits must report annually starting in 2027 on services provided, program outcomes, and financial details, while the commissioner may withhold funds for fraud or misconduct.
HF 3532 expands eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to include honorably discharged National Guard members and other reserve component veterans, along with their spouses and dependent children. It modifies existing rules to explicitly cover these new groups while maintaining fee-free burial for active-duty service members and veterans as defined by federal law. The bill also establishes a fee schedule for the new eligibility group and requires the Veterans Affairs commissioner to create a policy for waiving fees for indigent applicants. These changes directly affect National Guard/reserve veterans and their families seeking burial in state cemeteries.
This bill creates a new high school diploma in Minnesota specifically for veterans who did not complete high school before joining the military. It allows the state education commissioner to award a standard diploma to eligible veterans who served in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, or left high school to join active duty, provided they were honorably discharged and have a Minnesota connection (current resident, former student, or resident at time of death). The diploma is based on military service knowledge and experience, not traditional coursework. The Department of Education and Veterans Affairs will collaborate to assist veterans with applications.
This bill expands Minnesota's state veteran benefits to include former National Guard members and reservists who meet specific criteria. It defines an "eligible veteran" as someone residing in Minnesota who served honorably during a time of hostilities in the National Guard or U.S. reserve forces, completed their military service obligation, and received an honorable discharge. Eligible individuals would gain access to existing state benefits such as grave markers, honor guards, state cemetery burial, job preference in government hiring, and streamlined license renewals. The bill does not create new benefits but extends eligibility for current state programs to this group of veterans.
This bill authorizes Minnesota to issue free "Distinguished Flying Cross" special license plates to recipients of the military award. Eligible applicants must own a qualifying vehicle (passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or RV), pay standard registration fees, and meet other vehicle registration requirements. The plates, designed with the medal image and "DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS" text, are issued without charge and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same person. The program becomes effective January 1, 2027.
This bill appropriates $350,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to expand the Stillwater Veterans Memorial in Stillwater, Minnesota. The funds will directly support the memorial's physical expansion to honor veterans of the U.S. armed forces. The appropriation is specifically for fiscal year 2027 and requires the commissioner of administration to distribute the grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial organization. The bill does not change laws or create new programs - it solely allocates existing state funds for this specific memorial project.
SF 3956 allows Minnesota's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to direct available agency resources toward specific veterans' initiatives, including addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention. The bill directly affects veterans by enabling targeted support for these critical issues through state agency funding. Key provisions require the commissioner to annually report by October 15 to the governor and relevant legislative committees, detailing resources used and the specific initiatives supported in the previous year. This creates a formal mechanism for prioritizing veterans' needs while ensuring transparency in how state resources are allocated.
HF 716 appropriates $250,000 from state bond proceeds to fund an accessible parking lot at the Cedar Creek Conservation Area in Anoka County’s Oak Grove. The project provides direct access to the "Remember Them" veterans memorial and requires no additional local funding. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $250,000 to cover this cost, following Minnesota’s bond procedures. This funding directly affects Anoka County residents, veterans, and visitors with accessibility needs using the conservation area.
HF 1184 removes burial fees at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries for spouses and dependents of eligible veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 190.19 (subd. 2a) and 197.236 (subd. 9) to eliminate the fee schedule for these individuals and direct funds from the "Support Our Troops" account to cover uncompensated burial costs. It appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these costs, replacing the previous waiver process for indigent applicants. This policy change directly affects veterans' families seeking burial at state cemeteries.
