The following laws, policies and projects related to Veterans in Minnesota were enacted during the recently concluded 2017 Legislative Session. The Governor has approved all of these with his signature on the various bills that contained these measures.
State Government Finance Bill
CHAPTER 4 -- S.F. 1, 2017 1st SPECIAL SESSION
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Agency Funding: Approximately $150 million was appropriated for agency operations: Central office, Programs & Services, and Veterans Health Care/Veterans Homes.
- New Minnesota Veterans Cemetery - Duluth Operations: An increase of $1 million to MDVA funding for operations of the new state Veteran’s cemetery in Duluth. This will be the third state operated Veteran’s cemetery after Little Falls and Preston.
- Minnesota GI Bill Expanded Uses: Eligible recipients may now use the MN GI Bill to pay for items such as testing, licensure and certifications. In addition, changes to the timing and permissible per-year total expenditures for apprenticeship and on-the-job training will allow increased flexibility for recipients.
- Veterans Journey Home: One-time grant funding of $700,000 to be used to support the development of new or rehabilitated affordable housing dedicated for low-to-moderate income Veterans and their families.
- Veterans Defense Project: One-time grant funding of $500,000 which must be used to support, through education and outreach, Veterans who are involved with the criminal justice system. Grant funds to be administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center.
- Veterans Benefits Services Notification (‘Disclosure Statement’): Minnesota now requires that private providers of Veterans benefits services include language in their representation agreements and advertising that informs Veterans of existing Veteran benefit service assistance offered at no charge through VSO’s, CVSO’s and MDVA. Does not preclude those private providers from representing those seeking Veterans Benefits services or otherwise limit their ability to continue to provide services.
Legacy Finance Bill
CHAPTER 91 -- H.F. 707, 2017 REGULAR SESSION
- Medal of Honor Memorial: $250,000 to aid in the construction of a memorial to Minnesota Medal of Honor recipients on the grounds of the Capitol. The funds will be available once matching funds have been raised through non-state donations.
- Veterans Voices: $200,000 to the Minnesota Humanities Center for their Veterans focused programming.
- Vietnam: Minnesota Remembers: $650,000 grant to Twin Cities Public Television to produce content telling the stories of Minnesota’s Vietnam Veterans.
- Camp Legionville: $222,000 for programming for youth, veterans, and the public related to Minnesota's cultural, historical, and recreational activities.
- Big Marine Lake Veterans Rest Camp: $278,000 to develop and build a welcome center that supports the mission, programs and safety of the Veterans Rest Camp in Big Marine Lake.
- Rice County Veterans Memorial: $30,000 complete the Rice County Veterans Memorial in Faribault. This is in addition to the $30,000 in money from the bonding bill.
- Waseca County Veterans Memorial: $50,000 to Waseca County to complete the Waseca County Veterans Memorial.
Jobs and Economic Growth Bill
CHAPTER 94 -- S.F. 1456, 2017 REGULAR SESSION
- Helmets to Hardhats: $400,000 from the workforce development fund for grants to the Construction Careers Foundation.
Environment and Natural Resources Bill
CHAPTER 93 -- S.F. 844, 2017 REGULAR SESSION
- Disabled Veterans State Park Permit: A Veteran with proof any level of service-connected disability shall be issued a free annual park permit.
- Bear Hunt Raffle: If there is a limit for bear hunting permits in a certain area, first preference must be given to a resident of a Minnesota Veterans Home to obtain a permit.
Higher Education Bill
CHAPTER 89 -- S.F. 943, 2017 REGULAR SESSION
- Veterans-to-Agriculture: $350,000 of renewed funding for a pilot program to facilitate the entrance of Veterans into careers related to agriculture and food production, processing and distribution through intensive four to eight week academic trainings.
Tax Bill
CHAPTER 1 – H.F. 1, 2017 1ST SPECIAL SESSION
- Disabled Veteran Homestead Market Value Exclusion: Eliminated annual application; added the permissibility of retroactive application for surviving spouses / DIC recipients of eligible Veterans.
- Veterans’ Service Organization Property Taxes: Reduced class rate to one percent.
Omnibus Capital Investment (Bonding) Bill
CHAPTER 8 -- H.F. 5, 2017 1st SPECIAL SESSION
- MVH-Minneapolis Historic Truss Bridge Repairs: $7.851 million to repair the bridge that spans Minnehaha Creek and gives access to the campus at the Minnesota Veterans Home – Minneapolis.
- MDVA Asset preservation: $5 million to repair critical infrastructure projects at Minnesota Veterans Homes throughout the state.
- Rice County Veterans Memorial: Another $30,000 to aid non-state funding to finish a memorial in Faribault. This is in addition to the $30,000 in money (mentioned above) from the Legacy bill.