This bill (SF 3302) amends Minnesota Statutes section 137.375 to request that the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska provide free, unlimited entry to disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner of veterans affairs as having a permanent service-connected disability, plus one guest. To qualify, the veteran must present a photo ID card marked "service-connected" verifying their disability status. The provision directly affects disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities who visit the Chaska Arboretum, ensuring they and a guest receive complimentary access.
Minnesota bill HF 1855 requires veterans benefits service providers (who charge fees) to be federally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It prohibits these providers from guaranteeing specific benefits or benefit amounts to veterans or their families. The bill mandates written disclosure statements and fee agreements before services are provided, and establishes civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. This directly affects veterans seeking assistance with benefits appeals and the service providers offering those services.
This bill modifies Minnesota's veterans burial laws to clarify eligibility and adjust burial fees. It eliminates all burial fees for service members who died on active duty and eligible veterans (as defined by federal law), while requiring the Veterans Affairs commissioner to set fee schedules covering actual interment costs (excluding plot value) for spouses and dependent children. The bill also mandates a clear policy for waiving or reducing fees for indigent eligible applicants. These changes directly affect veterans, their families, and state-operated cemeteries by ensuring cost-free burial for veterans and creating structured fee management.
This bill establishes a pension offset stipend for Minnesota military service members called into state active duty. It requires the adjutant general to pay eligible service members a stipend equal to 5% of their basic pay during state service, compensating for pension inequities compared to similar federal service. The stipend applies specifically to members ordered into state active service under Governor authority, not to federal deployments. This change modifies Minnesota Statutes section 192.49, adding a new provision (subd. 2a) to address gaps in pension benefits for state-ordered service. It does not alter base pay rates ($130/day minimum or federal equivalent) but adds this targeted compensation.
HF 631 modifies Minnesota's property tax exclusion for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It increases the exclusion amount from $150,000 to $300,000 for veterans with a 100% permanent disability (certified by the VA), calculated as 1.5 times the statewide median homestead value. The bill also extends this $300,000 exclusion to a surviving spouse who owns the homestead, resides there permanently, and meets VA certification requirements after the veteran's death. To qualify, veterans or spouses must apply annually by December 31 and notify assessors of ownership or residency changes. This directly affects veterans with 100% disability, their surviving spouses, and primary family caregivers of eligible veterans.
This bill exempts veterans with a 100% service-connected disability from paying watercraft registration fees in Minnesota. It directly affects qualifying veterans who provide proof of their disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law amends state statute to waive all fees related to watercraft registration, transfers, duplicates, and surcharges for these veterans. The policy change is effective immediately upon enactment, removing financial barriers for this specific group.
HF 1283 amends Minnesota law to treat a veteran's original or certified DD214 discharge papers as legally equivalent to a permit to carry a firearm. This bill directly affects veterans (defined under Minnesota Statute 197.447) who wish to carry a pistol in locations requiring a permit. Under the bill, veterans no longer need to apply for a permit, pay fees, or complete firearm safety training to carry a pistol; they simply must carry their DD214. All other existing laws governing firearm permits and carry remain applicable. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
HF 1225 eliminates all-terrain vehicle (ATV) registration fees for Minnesota veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. It amends Minnesota Statutes to exempt these veterans from paying the standard $60 (public use) or $6 (private use) three-year registration fee, instead providing free registration. Veterans must provide proof of their 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or military retirement board. This change directly affects qualifying veterans who own ATVs, removing a financial burden tied to vehicle registration. The policy modifies existing fee structures under Minnesota Statutes § 84.922, subdivision 5.
HF 1756 increases property tax exclusions for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities and modifies benefits for surviving spouses. Veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating receive a $150,000 exclusion (doubling to $300,000 for 100% disability), with the base amount adjusted annually for inflation using a federal economic index. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans or service members who died in active duty can continue the full $300,000 exclusion until they remarry or sell the home. The bill directly affects veterans, their spouses, and primary family caregivers who qualify under the existing program.
This bill amends Minnesota law to waive fees for specific fishing licenses for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities. It directly affects Minnesota veterans who have a 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as defined by federal law. The provision allows them to obtain licenses for a fish house, dark house, or shelter without paying fees, using a VA disability letter or a driver's license with a designated disability indicator as proof. The change modifies existing statute 97A.441, subdivision 5, to include these fee waivers for eligible veterans.
