The Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Monday, May 18. This gives the House and the Senate nearly 10 days to finish outstanding work that includes a supplemental budget, bonding bill and any more bills dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

MDVA has a few priorities that are still under consideration including its own supplemental budget items, policy changes, and bonding requests.

The supplemental budget items are reflected in HF 4600 and SF 4574, the bills are authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund and Sen. Bruce Anderson, the chairs of their respective chamber’s Veterans committee. The bills would provide funding to MDVA to establish a Veterans Suicide Office and housing vouchers to lessen homelessness among Veterans and other former service members. While the bills have been introduced recently, they have yet to receive a hearing.

HF 998 and SF 1153 is the Veterans Restorative Justice Act, authored by Rep. Ecklund and Sen. Roger Chamberlain. The House has passed the bill through three committees and is awaiting a vote in the Ways and Means committee. It also passed in the House of Representatives last year as part of the State Government Finance bill but was not included in a final compromise with the Senate. Meanwhile, it has stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee since February 2019.

Three of MDVA’s policy changes are awaiting votes on the floor of the House and the Senate. HF4221/SF4193 makes technical changes to the Minnesota GI Bill statute. HF4222/SF4159 authorizes MDVA to provide dental service at the Minnesota Veterans Homes. HF4223/SF4158 authorizes MDVA to provide adult day care programs for Veterans and services for caregivers at the Minnesota Veterans Homes.

The other policy change, HF4224/SF4180 establishes a stable housing initiative that allows resources and support for Veterans experiencing homelessness to be more streamlined. It would also allow MDVA to share or disclose data to coordinate homeless prevention efforts for Veterans that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Both bills await hearings in the House and Senate Judiciary committees.

MDVA has many requests for any bonding bill that the legislature could pass before adjourning. Requests include money for asset preservation and security upgrades for residents and staff at the Minnesota Veterans Homes. In addition to that, state funding is needed to complete a greenhouse at the MVH - Fergus Falls that has already raised private donations.

Since this is the second year of the legislative biennium, no bills can be passed on May 18. Any legislation that needs to be finished before adjournment must pass before midnight on Sunday, May 17, unless a special session is called by the governor.