HF 239 amends Minnesota Statutes section 290A.03, subdivision 3, to explicitly exclude veterans' educational benefits from household income calculations for property tax refunds. This change ensures that veterans receiving tax-exempt educational assistance under U.S. Code Title 38, Section 5301(a) (such as GI Bill benefits) will not have these payments counted when determining eligibility for state property tax refunds. The bill directly affects Minnesota veterans who receive educational benefits, clarifying that these funds won't reduce their refund amount. The amendment updates the statutory definition of "income" to include veterans' educational assistance as a non-inclusive item, aligning with existing federal tax treatment of these benefits.
HF 840 removes burial fees at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries for spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 197.236, subdivision 9, to eliminate the requirement for fees on these family members, ensuring they can be buried without cost. This directly affects spouses and dependents of veterans who qualify for state veterans cemetery benefits under current law. The change applies to all eligible veterans' families, not just those who are indigent, and updates the fee schedule provisions to reflect this policy shift.
HF 2410 amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.791, subdivision 4, to clarify that surviving spouses of deceased veterans retain eligibility for state education benefits even after remarrying. Previously, marital status may have impacted benefits, but this change explicitly states that remarriage does not disqualify a surviving spouse from continuing to receive these benefits. The bill directly affects surviving spouses of veterans who died due to military service, ensuring they can maintain educational assistance regardless of their marital status. This is a specific policy change to the eligibility criteria, removing a potential barrier for remarried spouses.
HF 1445 modifies Minnesota's veterans burial laws to clarify eligibility and adjust fees. It specifies that veterans cemeteries must serve service members who died on active duty, veterans meeting federal criteria, and their spouses or dependent children. The bill requires the veterans commissioner to set fees for spouses and children that cover actual interment costs (excluding plot value), while allowing fee waivers for people with limited income. Crucially, it eliminates all burial fees for service members who died on active duty and for eligible veterans themselves.
HF 2673 exempts veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from all watercraft registration and transfer fees in Minnesota. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 86B.415 to add a new provision (Subd. 12) stating these veterans pay $0 for watercraft licenses, registration, transfers, duplicates, and associated surcharges. To qualify, veterans must provide proof of their 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or military retirement board. This policy directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own or register watercraft in Minnesota.
HF 1511 appropriates $5 million from the state general fund for a veteran mentorship program targeting Black youth in Minnesota. The bill directs the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to fund an organization that will develop and run the program, where veterans mentor Black youth to prevent violence and explore military careers. The funds are allocated specifically: $1.5 million for veteran mentor salaries, $2 million for community outreach, $1 million for youth engagement, and $500,000 for program administration. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, directly affecting Black youth in Minnesota through mentorship and career exploration opportunities.
HF 3216 restricts certain practices by companies and individuals offering veterans benefits appeal services in Minnesota. It directly affects veterans seeking to appeal denied benefits (like disability or home loan claims) and the service providers assisting them. Key provisions include banning upfront or nonrefundable fees, limiting total compensation to five times the monthly benefit increase, requiring written agreements detailing payment terms, prohibiting guarantees of successful outcomes, and adding privacy safeguards like background checks for staff handling veterans' personal information. The bill does not apply to veterans' service officers accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to ensure surviving spouses of veterans who died from military service can continue receiving state education benefits even if they remarry. It specifically updates the definition of "eligible spouse" in Section 197.791 to clarify that remarriage does not disqualify a surviving spouse from accessing these benefits. The policy directly affects surviving spouses who meet residency requirements and are enrolled in eligible Minnesota educational institutions. This change aligns with federal education benefits eligibility under Title 38, ensuring consistent access to state support regardless of marital status after the veteran's death.
This bill modifies Minnesota's eligibility rules for burial in state veterans cemeteries. It adds "honorably discharged members of the National Guard or a reserve component of the United States armed forces" to the list of qualifying individuals, alongside active-duty service members, eligible veterans, and their families (as defined in U.S. Code 38 U.S.C. § 101(2)). The change, found in Minnesota Statutes § 197.236, subd. 8, clarifies who qualifies for burial in state-run veterans cemeteries. The bill also appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026-2027 to support this program. It directly affects honorably discharged National Guard and reserve members seeking burial in Minnesota's state veterans cemeteries.
SF 1616 allocates $5 million from the general fund for a veteran mentorship program targeting Black youth in Minnesota. The bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to fund an organization that will employ veterans to mentor Black youth, aiming to prevent youth violence and help participants explore military careers. The funding is specifically broken down: $1.5 million for veteran mentor salaries, $2 million for community outreach and education, $1 million for youth engagement activities, and $500,000 for program administration. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, directly affecting Black youth through structured mentorship and career exploration opportunities.
