This Wednesday (March 11) marked one month since the legislature came into session for 2020. For the week, there were seven Veterans related bills heard in three different committees.

On Tuesday afternoon the House Veterans and Military Affairs committee heard two Veterans bills.

Rep. Bob Dettmer’s HF 3266 would provide funding for the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp in Washington County for various improvements around the campsite. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to the Legacy committee.

HF 4224 is authored by Rep. Shelly Christensen of Stillwater. It is a bill that would authorize a stable housing initiative for Veterans experiencing homelessness. It also allows MDVA to share data to coordinate homelessness prevention efforts with other entities that combat homelessness to respond quickly to a Veteran experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. This is a policy initiative of MDVA. It was approved by the committee and re-referred to the Judiciary and Civil Law committee.

SF 3319 was heard in the Senate Education committee on Wednesday afternoon. It is authored by Sen. Mark Johnson and would award a high school diploma to Veterans who left their education early to fight in World War Two, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Due to paperwork issues, the bill had to be tabled by the committee and was not approved.

The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs committee met Thursday morning and considered four bills, all of which were MDVA policy initiatives.

Sen. Andrew Lang carried SFs 4158 and 4159. Both bills would put into law two programs that MDVA already administers. They are the adult day care program and resident dental services, both of which are at the Minnesota Veterans Home – Minneapolis. The committee approved the bills and sent them to the Senate floor.

SF 4159 is authored by Sen. Bruce Anderson and makes technical changes that clarify the Minnesota GI Bill statute. It was approved by the committee and sent to the Senate floor.

Sen. Jerry Newton authors SF 4180, which is the Senate version of Rep. Christensen’s HF 4224. Like the House version, it was approved and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety committee.

At this point, the legislature plans to meet next week and both Veterans committees in the House and the Senate are expected to hold hearings. That could change due to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic. The House Veterans and Military Affairs committee will meet at 4 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday in room 120 of the State Capitol and hear four bills. The Senate Veterans and Military should meet at its normally scheduled time Thursday morning at 8:30 in room 1100 of the Minnesota Senate Building.