HF 3741 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for veterans' families, providing an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of veterans. It affects children and spouses of deceased veterans (including those who died in service), prisoners of war, or missing in action personnel who meet residency requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress at Minnesota public institutions. The bill specifies the stipend cannot be used by individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. It updates definitions to clarify eligibility criteria and repeals an outdated provision, ensuring funds are directed to qualifying family members pursuing higher education in Minnesota.
SF 3957 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for children and spouses of veterans. It provides an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of deceased veterans (or veterans who were prisoners of war/missing in action), replacing a previous single payment. To qualify, recipients must be Minnesota residents enrolled in a public Minnesota institution of higher education, making satisfactory academic progress, and not yet holding a bachelor's degree. The bill updates eligibility definitions and repeals an outdated section of law, focusing specifically on children and surviving spouses rather than veterans themselves.
HF 1184 removes burial fees at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries for spouses and dependents of eligible veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 190.19 (subd. 2a) and 197.236 (subd. 9) to eliminate the fee schedule for these individuals and direct funds from the "Support Our Troops" account to cover uncompensated burial costs. It appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these costs, replacing the previous waiver process for indigent applicants. This policy change directly affects veterans' families seeking burial at state cemeteries.
HF 2952 appropriates $1,000,000 from Minnesota's general fund for a grant to the United Heroes League, a nonprofit organization in Hastings. The funds must be used for capital improvements at the League's Hastings campus to directly benefit current service members, veterans, and their dependents. The grant requires the League to report to the legislature by January 15, 2027, detailing how the money was spent, including administrative costs. This bill establishes a specific funding mechanism for a nonprofit's facility upgrades with a required accountability report.
HF 2820 allocates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs. The funds are specifically designated to provide a grant to the YMCA of the North for three programs: Military and Veteran Family Retreats, Military Child BOLD and GOLD Outdoor Leadership Programs, and Military and Veteran Service Program Discounts. This bill directly supports veterans, military families, and military children through these targeted services. The funding is a one-time appropriation for these established programs, with no new policy requirements.
SF 3322 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for a grant to the United Heroes League, a Hastings, Minnesota-based nonprofit. The grant must fund capital improvements at the organization's campus to directly benefit current service members, veterans, and their dependents. By January 15, 2027, the commissioner of veterans affairs must report to legislative committees on how the funds were used, including administrative costs. The United Heroes League must provide necessary information to support this reporting requirement.
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.
SF 489 removes burial fees for spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 190.19 (relating to Department of Veterans Affairs funding) and 197.236 (regarding burial fees) to prohibit charging these fees. Currently, families paid fees for interment, but this bill eliminates that cost entirely for qualifying spouses and dependents. The change directly affects veterans' families seeking burial in state cemeteries, removing a financial barrier. The bill does not affect burial fees for veterans themselves, as those are already prohibited under existing law.
This bill establishes a $10,000 relocation bonus program for veterans who were involuntarily terminated from federal jobs after January 20, 2025. To qualify, veterans must not have been Minnesota residents on that date but establish residency before January 1, 2027, and begin working at least 20 hours weekly in Minnesota before that deadline. The program, funded with $6 million from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026, requires applicants to apply through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The commissioner must report on the program’s implementation by March 1, 2027.
