This week at the legislature the first deadline for bills took place on Thursday, March 22. This deadline "is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin." The second deadline will be next Thursday at midnight. The legislature uses deadlines to filter out bills that won't be enacted into law. In total, 12 Veterans related bills were heard throughout committees in the legislature.

HF 1123 is authored by Rep. Jim Davnie. It seeks to increase the homestead valuation exclusion for disabled Veterans. The increase for 70% disabled Veterans would go from $150,000 to $165,000. For 100% service connected disabled Veterans, the exclusion would increase from $300,000 to $330,000. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a tax bill.

HF 3387 is authored by Rep. Jeff Howe. It would eliminate the statutory requirement that for-profit  providers of veterans benefits services must disclose in their advertising that Veterans are entitled to free Veterans benefits services offered by county Veterans service officers. The bill was approved and re-referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform committee.

HF 3477 and SF 3262 are companion bills authored by Rep. Matt Bliss and Sen. Dan Hall. The bill seeks to allow a city or county to declare itself a "Purple Heart City" or "Purple Heart County" to honor and support Purple Heart recipients. Other benefits include a designated parking space at city hall or county government center. It allows a city or county to accept donations for signs and allows a city or county to designate Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day. The House bill was approved Government Operations and Elections committee and sent to the House floor for a full vote. The Senate bill was approved by the Veterans and Military Affairs committee and sent to the Senate floor.

HF 3503 is authored by Rep. Paul Torkelson. It modifies the disabled Veterans homestead exclusion by allowing a Veteran with a 100% disability rating, but not the 100% total and permanent rating, to receive the higher exclusion amount under the program. Currently, Veterans with a disability rating over 70%, which includes a Veteran at 100% if the Veteran is not totally and permanently disabled, are eligible for $150,000 exclusion, while
only 100% percent totally and permanently disabled Veterans qualify for an exclusion of $300,000. The bill was passed and re-referred to the tax committee.

HF 3672 is authored by Rep. Sheldon Johnson. It would increase the tax credit for certain military retirees from up to $750 to $1,000. It would also expand the eligibility for disabled Veterans with a 40% service connected disability or higher. No credit would be allowed on incomes of $60,000 or higher. The bill was approved and re-referred to Taxes.

HF 3750 and SF 3461 are authored by Rep. Keith Franke and Sen. Bruce Anderson. This bill clarifies that veterans can use GI benefits for both traditional educational expenses, such as tuition, as well as additional professional or educational benefits, such as professional licensing. The bills were approved by respective committees and sent to the House and Senate floor for full votes of the chambers.

HF 3934 is authored by Rep. Anna Wills. It would expand the military retirement pay subtraction to cover half of the pension income received through a federal civilian pension, if calculation of the pension includes a credit for military service. The bill was approved and re-referred to Taxes.

HF 3912 is authored by Rep. Davnie. If enacted, the bill would provide funding to expand the Minnesota Veterans Home - Minneapolis with up to 150 more beds for eligible Veterans and their spouses. It was passed, without recommendation and re-referred to the State Government Finance committee.

HF 4057 is authored by Rep. Julie Sandstede. This bill would move the application date for the disabled Veterans homestead exclusion to Nov. 1 and allows a Veteran to apply for a refund of taxes paid in 2017 and 2018 if the Veteran met the disability rating requirements for a portion of assessment years 2016 and 2017 but did not collect the benefit the following year. It was passed and re-referred to Taxes.

HF 4100 is authored by Rep. Bob Dettmer. This bill requires local units of government to manage and supervise the maintenance of abandoned cemeteries where Veterans are buried. A local unit of government may not refuse a transfer of an abandoned cemetery where a Veteran is buried. This bill was approved and re-referred to Commerce and Regulatory Reform.

In addition to all of the bills heard throughout the week, the House State Government Finance committee heard presentations from three communities (Bemidji, Fillmore County and Montevideo) seeking to build a new Veterans home in Minnesota.