Veterans

passed · Minnesota · House May 5, 2026

HF 3532: Honor guard detail provided, and eligibility modified for burial in state veterans cemeteries.

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.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands burial benefits to National Guard/reserve veterans and families, maintaining fee-free access - explicit benefit expansion per bill language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SF 3603: Armed forces veterans high school diploma establishment

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new diploma pathway for veterans, expanding educational access for eligible military service members who missed high school completion.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates diploma for veterans lacking high school completion, expanding educational benefits and recognition for military service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 3635: Former members of the National Guard or reservists benefits eligibility expansion provision

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.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands state veteran benefits to include former National Guard/reservists with honorable discharge, granting access to existing services like grave markers and cemeteries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition National Guard & Reserve Veteran Benefits

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signed · Minnesota · House Aug 1, 2026

HF 3467: Commissioner of veterans affairs allowed to direct agency resources to veterans' initiatives, and reports required.

HF 3467 allows Minnesota's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to redirect agency resources toward specific veterans' initiatives, including addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention. The bill requires the commissioner to submit an annual report by October 15 to the governor and relevant legislative committees, detailing resources used and the critical issues supported in the previous year. This legislation directly affects veterans by enabling targeted support for urgent needs through state agency resources. It creates a formal mechanism for tracking how funds and resources are allocated to veterans' programs. The bill is currently in its initial legislative stage, having been introduced on February 19, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly addresses veterans' homelessness as a key initiative, directly linking resource allocation to housing needs under housing-related subjects.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill enables targeted resource allocation for veterans' critical needs (homelessness, mental health, food insecurity) via commissioner authority, directly advancing support through funding and reporting requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Benefits Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

in committee · Minnesota · House May 12, 2026

HF 3540: Protection for veterans provided in the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

HF 3540 amends Minnesota's Human Rights Act to explicitly protect veterans from discrimination. It adds "veteran or military status" to the list of protected characteristics in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The bill defines "veteran or military status" to include active/reserve military members and veterans as defined in federal law. This means employers, housing providers, and public services cannot discriminate against individuals based on their military service or veteran status. The change makes existing anti-discrimination protections apply to veterans in all covered areas of Minnesota law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds 'veteran status' to housing protections under Minnesota Human Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on military status.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds veteran status to employment protections under Minnesota Human Rights Act, preventing workplace discrimination and strengthening workers' rights for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAmends Human Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination against veterans in employment, housing, and public services, strengthening protections for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 3764: Distinguished Flying Cross special license plates authorization provision

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.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes free license plates recognizing Distinguished Flying Cross recipients, a form of veteran service acknowledgment per topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 23, 2026

HF 3773: Minnesota supplemental nutrition assistance program established, and money appropriated.

HF 3773 establishes Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP), a state-funded program to provide food assistance to Minnesotans who would lose federal SNAP benefits due to upcoming federal restrictions. It directly affects vulnerable groups including veterans, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, foster youth aging out of care, new Americans, and working parents who lost jobs. The bill requires counties to conduct face-to-face assessments within 30 days of enrollment to determine eligibility for federal exemptions or support for meeting federal SNAP requirements. Funding of $X for fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to operate MNSNAP, with a moratorium on benefit terminations for those lacking medical or behavioral health assessments after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState-funded program replaces lost federal SNAP benefits, directly appropriating funds for essential food assistance to vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes state-funded food assistance program to maintain nutrition access for vulnerable populations, directly supporting public health outcomes through food security.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill provides state-funded SNAP for 'new Americans' (immigrants) and vulnerable groups affected by federal restrictions, directly advancing immigrant access to food assistance.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides state-funded food assistance to veterans who would lose federal SNAP benefits, directly supporting their access to nutrition benefits as a vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

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died · Minnesota · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 3957: Educational assistance for veterans' children and spouses modification

SF 3957 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for children and spouses of veterans. It provides an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of deceased veterans (or veterans who were prisoners of war/missing in action), replacing a previous single payment. To qualify, recipients must be Minnesota residents enrolled in a public Minnesota institution of higher education, making satisfactory academic progress, and not yet holding a bachelor's degree. The bill updates eligibility definitions and repeals an outdated section of law, focusing specifically on children and surviving spouses rather than veterans themselves.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides annual $750 stipend for veterans' dependents in public MN higher education, increasing financial access to postsecondary education.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides annual $750 stipend for veterans' dependents' education, replacing single payment and expanding ongoing financial support for eligible beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SF 3672: Stillwater veterans memorial extension appropriation

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.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds memorial expansion to honor veterans, directly supporting recognition through physical tribute. No restrictions or defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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died · Minnesota · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SF 4056: Minnesota Human Rights Act to provide protection for veterans

SF 4056 amends Minnesota's Human Rights Act to add "veteran or military status" as a protected class under state anti-discrimination law. This means veterans and active-duty military personnel in Minnesota are now explicitly protected from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The bill defines "veteran or military status" using the federal standard from U.S. Code Title 38. It directly affects veterans and military personnel by expanding existing protections previously not specifically included in Minnesota's law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly adds veteran status as a protected class in housing, preventing discrimination and strengthening tenant protections under Minnesota's Human Rights Act.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds veteran status as protected class in employment anti-discrimination law, directly strengthening workers' rights for veterans in hiring and workplace protections.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds veteran status as protected class under human rights law, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and services per federal standard.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment Veteran Housing

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