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.
SF 866 requires Minnesota's commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans upon request from county veterans service officers or approved veterans organizations. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.23, making the provision of markers mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") within available funds. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these markers, which must permanently mark veterans' graves within Minnesota. This directly affects veterans' families and the commissioner's office by establishing a funded process for grave markers.
HF 2409 modifies Minnesota's state veterans cemetery eligibility rules to explicitly include honorably discharged National Guard members and reserve component service members alongside active-duty personnel and veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.236 to expand the definition of eligible individuals under the burial program. It also appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover costs associated with this expanded eligibility. The change directly affects National Guard and reserve veterans who were previously excluded from the defined eligibility criteria under state law.
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.
