During the off-season of the Minnesota Legislature, State agencies continue the work of implementing the accomplishments from the last session while already planning for the 2026 session. This next session will be the second year of the two-year biennium and is traditionally the session that is focused on policy and “bonding” or capital investment. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is grateful to the Governor and the Minnesota Legislature for allocating $7.5 million for asset preservation for our Veterans Homes and Cemeteries in the 2025 Bonding bill; however, we will be seeking additional funding for more projects next year.

MDVA was very active at the Capitol during the last Legislative session and advocated for the funding needed to protect and maintain the facilities, program and services we provide to Minnesota Veterans and their families. All in all, we were satisfied with the outcomes that will allow us to continue operations after several years of significant growth including the addition of three new State Veterans Homes and one new State Veterans Cemetery.

One of our biggest Legislative accomplishments – now four years running – has been the passing of the Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus Bills. These bills have provided an historic investment in MDVA programs and services and reinforced that Minnesota Veterans are a priority. The omnibus bills are now a precedent, and we expect them to continue for many years to come.

When the 2025 session began, we recognized that the Legislature was working on a very tight State budget and was being especially careful about where money was being spent. Because we had received significant investments in new facilities the past few years, this year we focused on maintaining operations and programs. I’m pleased to report that even within this constrained fiscal environment, our new budget funds many of the important operations and initiatives underway at MDVA.

• For our Healthcare operations, we received budget operating adjustments so we can:
  • Fully staff our three newest Veterans Homes, so they can serve more Veterans; and
  • Cover rising costs and staffing needs at our five legacy Veterans Homes across the state.
• For our Programs & Services Division, we’ve made huge progress toward ending Veteran homelessness in Minnesota. Only Ramsey County remains before we can reach that goal. The new budget supports our ability to finish that work.

We also requested bonding support from the Legislature. While we did receive some funding to address a backlog of asset preservation projects of our facilities across the state, we did not receive requested funding for the renovation of Building 16 on the Minneapolis Veterans Home Campus that houses the Minneapolis location of the Domiciliary Program.

In addition to the budget, there were also a number of policy items discussed during the Legislative session. We supported the Commanders’ Task Force requests:

• We wanted to strengthen protections for Minnesota Veterans around “claims predators,” but were stymied by their lobbyists and allies who represented them as a legitimate choice for Veterans to use instead of the free services of the American Legion and other service organizations, the County Veterans Service Officers, or MDVA. I am committed to continuing work on this issue and see this passed into law next session.
• We were pleased that the Gold Star / Blue Star Family Memorial Plaque on the Capitol Grounds Court of Honor was approved.

MDVA will also be working with a newly appointed task force to define Veterans of the Secret War in Laos. The language in the Omnibus Bill grants those who meet the criteria limited benefits such as honor guards, grave markers, designations on drivers’ licenses and state ID cards, among others. The task force will establish criteria to determine who served and protocol to determine those deserving of the limited benefits. The task force must complete its work by mid-February 2026.

Overall, we appreciate the support of the Chairs of the House and Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committees and are grateful for them doing what is right for Veterans by providing an adequate budget for MDVA as part of the Veterans Omnibus Bill, which passed with bi-partisan support.

As always, if you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!