This bill modifies how the state of Minnesota pays military personnel serving in state active service. It requires commissioned officers and enlisted members to receive pay and allowances equal to what they would earn in the U.S. armed forces for the same rank and service time, with a minimum basic pay floor set at the federal E-5 pay grade rate. The legislation removes an older provision that allowed a flat $130 daily payment for enlisted members, replacing it with the requirement to match federal military pay standards. This change directly affects Minnesota National Guard members and other military personnel called to state active duty service.
This bill creates a permanent Commanders Task Force to advise Minnesota's governor, legislature, and Department of Veterans Affairs on issues affecting veterans and their families. The task force will be made up of elected leaders from eight specific veteran service organizations operating in Minnesota, including the American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans. Members will meet regularly, elect their own leadership, and serve as a communication bridge between state government and veteran organizations without receiving state compensation. The group will focus on providing recommendations related to veterans' services and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This bill modifies eligibility requirements for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to include honorably discharged National Guard and reserve component members along with their spouses and dependent children. It establishes a fee schedule for these new eligible groups that covers actual interment costs while allowing fee waivers for indigent applicants, while maintaining free burial for service members who die on active duty and other eligible veterans. The legislation also clarifies that cemeteries must operate solely for the burial of these specified groups and their families.
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 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 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 modifies Minnesota's veteran special license plate inscriptions to better reflect specific service periods and military honors. It updates required wording for plates, such as changing "BRONZE STAR VET" to "BRONZE STAR MERITORIOUS" for recipients of that medal, adding "WOMAN VETERAN" plates, and specifying exact emblems for medals like the Purple Heart or Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The changes apply to veterans who served in designated conflicts (e.g., Vietnam, Korean War, Gulf War) or received specific campaign medals, including National Guard members activated under federal service. The updated rules will take effect for plates issued on or after October 1, 2026.
This bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.
HF 1845 expands Minnesota's definition of "veteran" to include two specific groups: (1) Hmong veterans naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, and (2) individuals who served honorably with secret guerrilla units or irregular forces operating from Laos in support of U.S. forces between February 28, 1961, and May 14, 1975. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 to add these categories to the existing definition, ensuring these veterans qualify for state benefits. It also creates an advisory task force of veterans, experts, and community members to help determine eligibility under the new definition. This change directly affects Hmong veterans and Laotian-based veterans who previously may not have met Minnesota's veteran criteria.
Minnesota Senate File 395 creates special veterans' license plates for each branch of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine). It allows eligible veterans who do not qualify for existing veteran plates to obtain free plates displaying "VETERAN" and their branch's emblem, provided they pay standard registration fees and meet ownership criteria for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, or specific trucks. The plates must be designed in consultation with veterans' organizations and can be transferred to another qualifying vehicle owned by the same person. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.
