In accordance with the Minnesota constitution, the 2019 legislative session came to an end on Monday, May 20 with major components of the two-year state budget left unfinished. A one-day special session was called for Friday, May 24 so that the Minnesota House and Senate could finish passing budget bills. Included in that session was the State Government and Veterans Finance bill, which funds the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and also has Veteran related policy changes.

The State Government, Veterans & Military Affairs Finance bill was SF10 – 1st Special Session. In the Senate it was authored by Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer and by Rep. Michael Nelson in the House. The bill funded all of MDVA’s requested funding increases including operations adjustments for the Programs & Services division, the state cemeteries and an increase in the Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education (C.O.R.E.) program.

The bill also appropriates money for the Armed Forces Service Center at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport so that the center can replace furniture and beds for users of the facility as they move into new space in Terminal One. The Medal of Honor Memorial on the Capitol Grounds was also funded, so long as a certain threshold of private donations are received.

There were a few policy changes included in SF10 including the establishment of POW and MIA Recognition Day (first Friday in September), Veterans Suicide Awareness Day (first Saturday of October) and American Allies Day (June 30) and the Hmong Special Guerrilla Units Remembrance Day (May 14). The bill also clarifies the duties of the MDVA commissioner, which is solely a technical change.

The Senate passed SF10 with a vote of 65-2. The House approved it on a 77-49 vote. Governor Walz received the bill from the legislature on Tuesday, May 28 and is expected to sign it.