HF 3727 increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities by raising the market value exclusion amounts. Veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating now qualify for a $200,000 exclusion (up from $150,000), while those with a total and permanent 100% disability qualify for $400,000 (up from $300,000). The bill applies to veterans owning their primary residence ("homestead") in Minnesota, requiring certification of disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and honorable military discharge. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also inherit this tax benefit under specific conditions. This change directly reduces taxable value for eligible veterans’ primary homes, lowering their property tax burden.
This bill appropriates $350,000 from the state general fund for a one-time grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial. The funds will expand the veterans' memorial located in Stillwater Veterans Memorial Park within the city of Stillwater. The grant is designated for fiscal year 2027 and is specifically intended to support physical improvements to the memorial site. The bill is currently in its early legislative stage, having been introduced and referred to committee on February 19, 2026.
HF 3391 amends Minnesota's veteran special license plate inscriptions to update wording and add new categories. It requires plates to display specific inscriptions based on military service, such as "WOMAN VETERAN" for qualifying women veterans, corrected wording for Bronze Star and Silver Star recipients (e.g., "BRONZE STAR MERITORIOUS" or "SILVER STAR HEROISM"), and clarifies eligibility for National Guard members with certain medals. The bill directly affects Minnesota veterans who qualify for these specialized plates based on their service history or military awards. It takes effect October 1, 2026, for newly issued plates.
HF 3471 appropriates $350,000 from the general fund for a one-time grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial. The funds are designated to expand the veterans' memorial located in Stillwater Veterans Memorial Park in Stillwater, Minnesota. This appropriation is specifically for fiscal year 2027 and is intended to support the physical expansion of the memorial site. The bill directly affects the Stillwater Veterans Memorial organization and the park's development.
HF 3472 appropriates $350,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2027 to expand the Stillwater Veterans Memorial. The funds will be provided as a grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial to enhance its space honoring U.S. armed forces veterans. This bill directly affects the Stillwater memorial project and the veterans it commemorates. It makes a specific, concrete funding allocation without altering broader policies or creating new requirements. The bill's sole mechanism is the targeted appropriation for this memorial expansion.
HF 3763 establishes new community engagement requirements for individuals applying for or renewing Minnesota's medical assistance program. It requires applicants to demonstrate 80 hours of qualifying activity (such as work, community service, education, or sufficient income) in the two months prior to application or renewal, unless they qualify for an exception. Key exceptions include parents caring for young children, veterans with service-connected disabilities, individuals with medical frailty, and people enrolled in other state assistance programs. The bill creates specific guidelines for documenting compliance and exceptions, with the commissioner developing standard forms for medical hardship exemptions. This policy directly affects low-income Minnesotans seeking state medical assistance coverage.
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 3502 appropriates $150,000 from the general fund for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) organization to provide specific services to American Indian veterans residing in Minnesota. The grant funds peer support outreach, staffing at veteran events, culturally informed mental health services, cultural resilience retreats, and transition support. NAIV must report to the commissioner of veterans affairs and legislative committees by January 15, 2027, detailing how the funds were used, including any administrative costs. This bill directly affects Minnesota's American Indian veterans by expanding access to culturally tailored support services through NAIV.
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 3741 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for veterans' families, providing an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of veterans. It affects children and spouses of deceased veterans (including those who died in service), prisoners of war, or missing in action personnel who meet residency requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress at Minnesota public institutions. The bill specifies the stipend cannot be used by individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. It updates definitions to clarify eligibility criteria and repeals an outdated provision, ensuring funds are directed to qualifying family members pursuing higher education in Minnesota.
