This bill increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the market value exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) and permanent disability. The change directly affects qualifying veterans, their surviving spouses (if the veteran dies before applying), and primary family caregivers who live in the veteran's home. The key provision modifies Minnesota Statutes section 273.13 to provide higher tax savings on the primary home's value.
SF 185 increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the homestead market value exclusion from $150,000 to $250,000 for veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating, and from $300,000 to $450,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. The bill also allows surviving spouses of qualifying veterans to continue receiving the higher exclusion amount ($450,000) if they reside in the home and meet specific conditions. Primary family caregivers approved by the VA may also qualify for the exclusion on the veteran's homestead. This policy directly affects veterans, their spouses, and designated caregivers who own qualifying property in Minnesota.
This bill modifies data access rules to help veterans verify eligibility for specific programs. It allows the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to electronically access the Human Services Department's MAXIS database to confirm eligibility for the State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, and SSI/SSDI Outreach program. The change ensures veterans can be connected to all available state and federal resources they qualify for. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility criteria, only streamlining verification between agencies.
HF 236 amends Minnesota's tax code to allow veterans and surviving spouses of veterans to subtract all of their taxable Social Security benefits from their state taxable income, without the income-based phaseouts that apply to other taxpayers. Currently, Minnesota reduces Social Security benefit subtractions for higher-income earners, but this bill creates an exception for veterans and their surviving spouses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and defines "veteran" per Minnesota Statute 197.447. This directly benefits eligible veterans and surviving spouses by reducing their state income tax burden on Social Security benefits.
HF 2069 creates new Minnesota license plates specifically for veterans of each U.S. military branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine). Eligible veterans who meet existing criteria (including having discharge papers) can apply for a free plate featuring "VETERAN" and their branch's emblem. The plates must be the same size as standard plates for the vehicle type (e.g., motorcycle) and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same veteran for a $5 fee. This bill, effective January 1, 2026, expands Minnesota’s existing veterans' plate program by adding branch-specific designs.
This bill establishes education benefits for dependents of disabled veterans in Minnesota. It provides tuition, fee, and book coverage at state-operated colleges or University of Minnesota institutions for dependent children of veterans with a 100% permanent disability or a 70%+ disability rating. The benefit covers 100% of costs (after subtracting other aid) for the highest disability tier and 50% for the 70%+ tier. Payments are processed through the Office of Higher Education upon institution verification of student eligibility and enrollment.
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.
This bill eliminates all-terrain vehicle (ATV) registration fees for Minnesota veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. Specifically, it exempts these veterans from the $60 public-use or $6 private-use registration fees under Minnesota Statutes §84.922, providing a three-year free registration. To qualify, veterans must provide proof of their 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or military retirement board. The exemption directly affects eligible veterans, not all ATV owners or general veterans.
HF 347 expands Minnesota's individual income tax deduction for military retirement pay. The bill adds three specific provisions allowing taxpayers to subtract military retirement income from taxable income: (1) certain military pensions under federal law, (2) federal employee retirement pensions multiplied by military service ratio, and (3) civil service retirement pensions multiplied by military service ratio. It also prohibits taxpayers claiming another specific credit (section 290.0677) from using this deduction. The change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, directly benefiting Minnesota residents receiving qualifying military retirement pay.
HF 2682 appropriates $6,000 from Minnesota's general fund to provide a $1,200 bonus to eligible veterans who served in qualifying campaigns under Minnesota law but did not receive a bonus under existing provisions (Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79). Veterans must submit military discharge documents (DD214) confirming their service to the state veterans affairs commissioner by December 31, 2028, to qualify for the payment. The funds are available until June 20, 2029, to cover eligible bonus payments. This bill directly affects veterans meeting specific service criteria who were previously excluded from bonus eligibility under current state law.
