While the State Government Finance and Veterans bill featured many Veterans-related provisions, it wasn’t the only piece of legislation passed during the one-day Special Session that included Veterans policies. There were four other bills that featured elements which benefit Veterans and their families.

Tax bill
2019, 1st Special Session HF5 is the Omnibus Tax bill. This piece of legislation included the elimination of the 8-year limit for surviving spouses to use the disabled Veteran Homestead Market Exclusion. This will allow widows and widowers to stay in their home as long as they want after the death of their Veteran spouse. Secondly, the tax bill included a provision to allow County Assessors to communicate with County Veterans Service Officers so that they can administer the Homestead Market Exclusion more efficiently. The application date for the Homestead Market Exclusion is also changing from July 1 to Dec. 15 starting with assessment year 2019. Finally, the investment threshold for Veteran-owned small businesses to earn the angel investor credit is lowered from $10,000 to $7,500.

Legacy bill
Special Session SF3 is the Legacy funding bill. This bill uses money from the Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage fund that were established after Minnesota voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008. For Veterans, the bill provides funding to the Minnesota Military Museum to document the service of post-9/11 Veterans in anticipation of the 20th anniversary in 2021. Funding is also appropriated to the museum to care for, catalog and display the collection of General John Vessey. Martin County received funding for the design and construction of a Veterans memorial. Finally, the bill included funding for the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations (AMPERS) for the Veterans’ Voices program to document the stories of Korean War Veterans.

Jobs bill
Special Session HF2 is the Jobs, Energy and Commerce finance bill. The bill includes a grant to the Construction Careers Foundation for the Helmet to Hard Hats initiative which helps Veterans participate in apprenticeship programs in the building and construction industry. The apprenticeship programs must be registered with the Department of Labor and Industry.  

Judiciary bill
Special Session SF8 is the Judiciary and Public Safety finance bill. It includes a one-time grant to a domestic abuse prevention program for Veterans and current and former service members, and their families.

Governor Walz is expected to sign all of the bills passed during the Special Session.