Veterans (Veteran Benefits) in Minnesota

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SF 4975: Certain former officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reside in state veterans homes authorization

This bill expands eligibility for Minnesota state veterans homes to include former commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To qualify, these individuals must have served on active duty for at least 181 consecutive days or been discharged due to service-related disability, and must have been separated under honorable conditions. The legislation amends existing state statutes to formally recognize these groups as veterans for the purpose of receiving nursing care and related health services at the homes.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 28, 2026

HF 4171: Imposition of certain fees for residential improvements necessary to accommodate the disability of a veteran prohibited.

This bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from charging fees for residential improvements needed to accommodate a veteran's disability. It directly affects veterans with recognized physical or mental impairments who are making home modifications to meet their disability needs. Under the new law, local governments cannot charge permit, inspection, or licensing fees for these specific improvements, and they cannot deny permits or inspections due to unpaid fees related to such work. Veterans must still submit standard applications and provide proof of their veteran status and disability connection to qualify for the fee waiver. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 4228: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport parking fees waived for veteran with total service-connected disability.

This bill would allow veterans with a total service-connected disability to park for free at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for up to ten days within any 90-day period starting in 2027. To qualify, veterans must provide documentation such as a driver's license with a veteran designation, a military ID showing a 100 percent disability rating, or a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming their disability status. The bill requires the airport commission to establish a waiver process by December 2026 and conduct outreach to veterans organizations statewide. Any parking beyond the ten free days would be charged at the standard rate.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

died · Minnesota · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 4075: Secret War in Laos veterans benefits availability modifications and eligibility process establishment by the commissioner of veterans affairs requirement provision

This bill modifies Minnesota veterans benefits to include veterans of the Secret War in Laos, a group that includes both naturalized Hmong veterans and those who served with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos between 1961 and 1975. It directs the commissioner of veterans affairs to establish an eligibility verification process and issue certificates of eligibility for these veterans to access existing state benefits. The legislation also requires the creation of a fee schedule for burial services and allows fee waivers for indigent eligible applicants. Changes take effect on July 2, 2025, for naturalized veterans and after verification for those who served in guerrilla units, with a driver's license designation option becoming available on November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 5, 2026

HF 3911: Former officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorized to reside in state veterans homes.

This bill expands eligibility for Minnesota state veterans homes to include former commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who served on active duty. To qualify, these individuals must have served at least 181 consecutive days or been separated due to a service-related disability, and must have been discharged under honorable conditions. The legislation amends existing state statutes to formally define these groups as veterans for the purpose of accessing nursing care and related health and social services at state veterans homes.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 4685: Certain fees prohibition for residential improvements necessary to accommodate the disability of a veteran

This bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from charging fees for residential improvements needed to accommodate a veteran's disability. It directly affects veterans with service-connected physical or mental impairments who need home modifications, as well as local governments that would otherwise collect permit and inspection fees for such projects. The law requires veterans to provide proof of their status and disability-related need, but prevents municipalities from refusing permits or inspections due to unpaid fees related to these specific improvements. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

passed · Minnesota · House May 5, 2026

HF 3919: Laos war; veterans benefits relating to the Secret War in Laos modified, veterans affairs commissioner directed to establish an eligibility process, technical changes made, appropriation canceled, and money appropriated.

This bill expands state veterans benefits to include Minnesota residents who served in the Secret War in Laos, specifically those who were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act or who served honorably with special guerrilla units or irregular forces in Laos between 1961 and 1975. The legislation directs the commissioner of veterans affairs to create an eligibility verification process and issue certificates of eligibility for these veterans, granting them access to benefits such as veteran designation on driver's licenses, civil service recruitment opportunities, employment preference, and burial fee waivers. The bill also allows the commissioner to establish a fee schedule for interment of eligible spouses and dependents of these veterans, with provisions for fee waivers for indigent applicants. Technical changes are made to existing statutes to incorporate these new definitions and benefits, with an effective date of July 2, 2025 for most provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Appropriations Fees & Licensing Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

in committee · Minnesota · House May 12, 2026

HF 3727: Market value exclusion modified for veterans with a disability by increasing exclusion amount for totally and permanently disabled veterans.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Property Tax Veteran Benefits Veteran Housing

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SF 4026: Department of Veterans Affairs issued competitive grants standards for usage establishment

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

signed · Minnesota · House Aug 1, 2026

HF 3741: Educational assistance for veterans' children and spouses modified, and money appropriated.

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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

All veterans bills