This bill amends Minnesota's vehicle registration tax law to provide a tax reduction for disabled veterans. It requires that disabled veterans pay only the percentage of the registration tax corresponding to their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., 30% tax for a 30% disability rating), applying to only one vehicle per owner. The law also mandates that the state transfer funds from the general fund to the highway user fund each July 15 to cover the lost tax revenue from these reductions. The policy directly affects disabled veterans who own vehicles in Minnesota, reducing their registration costs based on their VA disability rating.
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 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.
HF 1297 increases Minnesota's property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the excluded market value from $150,000 to $250,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability, and from $300,000 to $500,000 for those with a total (100%) permanent disability. This directly affects veterans (or their spouses if the veteran dies) who own their primary residence (homestead), meet VA certification requirements, and have an honorable discharge. The change applies to property tax assessments after the bill's effective date, requiring applications by December 31 each year.
HF 2444 is a Minnesota state budget bill that allocates funding for military and veterans services. It provides $30 million for Military Affairs (2026) and $33.5 million (2027), plus $141.9 million for Veterans Affairs (2026) and $146.7 million (2027), including $111.3 million for veterans health care. The bill requires new reporting on federal Medicare reimbursements for veterans homes, allocates $550,000 annually for suicide prevention programs, and mandates a memorial plaque for Gold Star and Blue Star families at the State Capitol. These provisions directly affect Minnesota veterans, military families, and state agencies managing veterans' benefits and facilities.
This bill increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the homestead exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. Qualifying veterans must have an honorable discharge (via DD214) and VA certification of their disability rating. The exclusion also extends to primary family caregivers of veterans and surviving spouses who meet specific ownership and residency requirements.
SF 1012 appropriates $1.3 million from the general fund for wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake in Washington County. The funds are designated for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association to design, construct, and install new sewage systems at the campground. This one-time appropriation is available until project completion or abandonment, as specified in Minnesota law. The bill directly affects the campground's operations and the veterans who use it, with no broader policy changes beyond this specific infrastructure project.
HF 194 increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities by raising the exclusion amount for their homesteads. It raises the exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) permanent disability. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans who died while serving or with a total disability also gain eligibility for the higher $400,000 exclusion if they continue living in the home. This directly affects veterans with VA-certified disabilities and their eligible spouses, reducing their property tax burden on their primary residence. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 273.13, subdivision 34.
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.
HF 1514 appropriates $400,000 annually from the general fund for the Veterans Resilience Project to provide eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. It directly serves veterans, veterans' spouses, active military service members, and their spouses diagnosed with PTSD or trauma. The bill requires the project to submit annual reports by January 15 to the commissioner of veterans affairs and relevant legislative committees, detailing program spending, participants served, and services provided. This funding and reporting mechanism ensures targeted mental health support for military-connected individuals while maintaining transparency.
