This bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds will be used to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a new accessible shooting range and retreat facility specifically for disabled veterans and handicapped individuals. The appropriation is one-time and available until the project is completed or abandoned. It directly affects the nonprofit organization and its target beneficiaries through dedicated capital funding for accessibility-focused infrastructure.
This bill (SF 3302) amends Minnesota Statutes section 137.375 to request that the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska provide free, unlimited entry to disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner of veterans affairs as having a permanent service-connected disability, plus one guest. To qualify, the veteran must present a photo ID card marked "service-connected" verifying their disability status. The provision directly affects disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities who visit the Chaska Arboretum, ensuring they and a guest receive complimentary access.
HF 532 appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for veteran retreats at Camp Bliss in Walker. The funds reimburse Independent Lifestyles, Inc. $850 per eligible veteran or family member per visit (up to two visits yearly) for services like therapy, transportation, and camp maintenance. Eligible veterans include former service members with a DD-214 or current military members, and their spouses, domestic partners, or children. This bill directly provides funding for retreat programs supporting veterans and their families through a specific reimbursement mechanism.
This bill modifies Minnesota's veterans burial laws to clarify eligibility and adjust burial fees. It eliminates all burial fees for service members who died on active duty and eligible veterans (as defined by federal law), while requiring the Veterans Affairs commissioner to set fee schedules covering actual interment costs (excluding plot value) for spouses and dependent children. The bill also mandates a clear policy for waiving or reducing fees for indigent eligible applicants. These changes directly affect veterans, their families, and state-operated cemeteries by ensuring cost-free burial for veterans and creating structured fee management.
HF 1783 authorizes Minnesota to issue free special license plates for residents who have received the Legion of Merit military award. The bill allows eligible veterans to obtain these plates for personal-use vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, or RVs) without paying registration fees or replacement costs. Plates can be transferred between vehicles owned by the same person, but must be used only for non-commercial purposes. This is a procedural change to Minnesota's license plate program, effective January 1, 2026.
This bill appropriates $275,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for a veterans memorial in Forest Lake. The funds will be granted to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee to construct a memorial honoring U.S. armed forces veterans at Lakeside Memorial Park. The bill directly affects the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee and the city of Forest Lake, providing specific funding for this project in fiscal year 2026. It is a procedural appropriation bill with no new policy requirements beyond the funding allocation.
HF 1181 establishes a new special license plate design for Jewish war veterans in Minnesota. The bill amends state law to require that these plates display the inscription "JEWISH WAR VETERANS OF AMERICA" along with a designated emblem approved by the commissioners of veterans affairs and public safety. This plate category directly affects Jewish veterans who qualify under existing eligibility criteria for Minnesota's veteran license plates, such as those who served in specific conflicts or received certain military medals. The bill does not change eligibility requirements but adds this specific design to the state's existing suite of veteran-themed license plates.
This bill restricts how service providers can charge veterans for help with benefits appeals or applications. It prohibits upfront fees, guarantees of success, and compensation exceeding five times the monthly benefit increase. Service providers must get written agreements detailing fees (only paid if benefits increase), avoid using international call centers, and conduct background checks on staff handling veterans' medical/financial data. The bill directly affects veterans seeking assistance with federal or state benefits and the private companies or individuals offering those services. It aims to prevent exploitative practices while clarifying allowable compensation structures.
This bill exempts veterans with a 100% service-connected disability from paying watercraft registration fees in Minnesota. It directly affects qualifying veterans who provide proof of their disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law amends state statute to waive all fees related to watercraft registration, transfers, duplicates, and surcharges for these veterans. The policy change is effective immediately upon enactment, removing financial barriers for this specific group.
This bill exempts property owned and operated by congressionally chartered veterans service organizations (like the American Legion or VFW chapters) from Minnesota's standard property tax classification. It removes these properties from taxable categories and establishes a direct exemption, requiring organizations to file applications with county assessors by August 1, 2025, and the Veterans Affairs commissioner to provide a qualifying organization list to tax authorities by July 1, 2025. The exemption applies only to the 2025 property tax assessment year. This change directly affects eligible veterans service organizations by reducing their property tax burden for one year.
