On Monday, Feb. 20 the 2018 legislative session began and is expected to end on May 21. The adjournment date is set by the Minnesota Constitution. This is the second year of the 90th Minnesota Legislative session.

Typically, the second year of a biennium is the 'bonding' session as opposed to the 'budget' session in the first year of the biennium. This means that the focus will be on putting together a Capital Investment bill to pay for public works projects throughout Minnesota, including money to pay for repairs and infrastructure at MDVA owned buildings.

The two main committees which hear Veterans related legislation are the  Veterans Affairs Division in the House, which is chaired by Representative Bob Dettmer (a U.S. Army Veteran), and the Senate’s Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, chaired by Senator Bruce Anderson (a U.S. Air Force Veteran). These committees will meet for the first time next week.

On Monday at 1 p.m. the Veterans Affairs Division will meet in Room 5 of the State Office Building. The agenda includes four bills, an introduction of Adjutant General Jon Jensen, presentations by the Department of Military Affairs' and MDVA's  bonding requests.

The Senate Veterans committee will meet on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Room 1100 of the Minnesota Senate Building. The agenda has not been made available as of 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23.

Two new legislators

On Tuesday, new legislators were sworn into office. Senator Karla Bigham was elected to serve Senate District 54 after the resignation of Senator Dan Schoen. Senator Bigham will serve on the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy committee. Rep. Jeremy Munson was elected to House District 23B after the resignation of former Rep. Tony Cornish.