Cole Trace is the Legislative Liaison for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and has worked with the legislature in various capacities since 2010. Cole can be contacted at Cole.Trace@state.mn.us for Veteran related legislation questions.

The 2023 Legislative Session came to a close on May 22 after months of work at the State Capitol. For Veterans, the biggest highlight was the House and the Senate reaffirming their commitment to keep Veterans out of political games by passing a second consecutive Veterans Omnibus Bill that included the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) budget and more.

MDVA’s budget within the Veterans Omnibus bill funded operations for:

• Veterans Healthcare (current and future Minnesota Veterans Homes operations, as well as the Veteran Suicide Prevention initiative)
• Veterans Programs & Services (claims, assistance needs, education and employment benefits)
• State Veterans Cemeteries
• CORE Program
• LinkVet Support Center
• Homeless Veterans and SOAR Program
• Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) grants

The Minnesota GI Bill was also amended to provide more educational assistance to qualified recipients per year as part of the lifetime benefit regardless of their status as a full- or part-time student.

There were also changes to the Post-9/11 Veteran Service Bonus Program, including funding that allows all current Minnesota resident Veterans to apply for the bonus. Previously Veterans were only eligible if they began their service in Minnesota and remained a resident. The other change was allowing Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal recipients to receive the highest bonus level.

Finally, the legislature funded a new Veteran Community Health Navigators office at MDVA. This will establish a statewide community-based outreach program for Veterans and their families. The goal is to connect them with needed services either through the VA or other community-based providers, especially outside the metro area. The goal is to create a healthier statewide population, reduce mortality and morbidity and play a role in reducing Veteran suicide.

The Omnibus Bill also included more opportunities for Veterans that MDVA will oversee or partner with others.

• Camp Bliss in Walker, MN will provide retreats for Veterans and their families including therapy, activities and transportation to the camp. The grant can also be used for general maintenance.
• Veterans on the Lake in Ely, MN received a similar grant but will focus on therapy activities and transportation for Veterans and their families.
• Veterans Resilience Project was given funding to provide eye movement rapid desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with a grant. The bill also allows spouses of Veterans and service members to receive the therapy.
• Metro Meals on Wheels was given funding to provide meals to Veterans in the Twin Cities Metro area.
• Minnesota Military and Veterans Museums in Little Falls, MN was given funding for both construction and operations to provide Veterans and their family museum services.
• The Every Third Saturday grant is for emergency assistance to Veterans and also provides Veterans with internships.
• Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake funding is to construct a new wastewater system.

The Omnibus Bill also established a Veteran Domiciliary Resident Quality of Care Working Group to review and analyze the acuity of domiciliary Residents and the current care model in place at the Minnesota Veterans Home Domiciliary Program being used. The working group will provide recommendations on staffing levels, care delivery model, staff training, management structure and outcomes to determine if staffing levels and care delivery are appropriate at current standards or if adjustments are needed. The group must finish its work and report to the Legislature by January 2024.

The Legislature is scheduled to return in February 2024, unless a special session is called.