Both Veterans committees in the Senate and House met this past week as work ramps up this session.

On Wednesday morning, March 3, the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division heard a presentation from Meals on Wheels relating to their Veteran-specific efforts as well as three bills.

The first bill, HF3919, came from Rep. Cha. It includes the statutory updates and recommendations from the Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) Task Force. The committee heard testimony from MDVA as well as members of the task force as it debated the bill. It was passed by the committee on to the House Transportation Committee and will have another hearing on Monday afternoon, March 9.

The second bill, HF3467, came from Rep. Rehrauer. This is a department policy bill that, if enacted, would allow the Commissioner of MDVA to direct non-monetary agency resources toward Veterans' initiatives. It was laid over and will be taken up at the Wednesday, March 11 hearing where an amendment to the bill will be added.

The third bill, HF3741, came from Rep. Hill. This is a department policy bill that makes important updates to Veterans Higher Education-related sections of law in Chapter 197. It was passed to the General Register on a unanimous voice vote. The Senate Subcommittee on Veterans met on Wednesday afternoon March 3 and heard all four of the department’s policy bills.

The first bill, SF3956, came from Sen. Gustafson. It is the companion to HF3467. It was amended in committee and laid over and will be taken up at the Monday, March 9 hearing where an additional amendment to the bill will be added.

The next bill, SF3955, came from Sen. Kupec. This bill would allow MDVA to temporarily close a Veterans Home in very limited circumstances if given an involuntary closure notice by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bill was amended in committee with an amendment brought by Sen. Howe, approved and sent to the full Agriculture Committee. The committee then heard another bill from Sen. Kupec. SF4072 is MDVA’s Housekeeping and Federal conformity bill. It seeks to reclassify the agency Chief of Staff position as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration, align federal forfeited benefits with state benefits and repeal outdated statutes. After some debate, the bill was approved and sent to the full Agriculture Committee.

Lastly, the committee heard SF3957. This is a bill from Sen. Seeberger and is the companion bill to HF374. After some debate, the bill was approved and sent to the full Agriculture Committee.

This week the Senate Veterans Sub-Committee meets Monday, March 9 and the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meets Wednesday, March 11.