A slower week at the legislature with only four Veterans related bills receiving committee hearings in the House and Senate.

The Senate Property Tax subcommittee heard SF1201, authored by Sen. Jeff Howe of Rockville. If enacted, this bill would remove Veterans disability compensation from the definition of income that is used to determining eligibility and the amount of refund for property tax refunds. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a property tax omnibus bill.

HF641 authored by Rep. Donald Raleigh of Circle Pines was heard in House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs. The bill would provide a tax credit to employers that hire unemployed or disabled Veterans. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to the tax committee.

Rep. Sandra Feist’s (New Brighton) HF478 was heard in Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform. It only received a brief hearing due to the bill not actually being in possession of the committee. The bill should be heard again next week, likely followed by a committee vote.

The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs heard SF1511, authored by Sen. Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids. It would add two words to Veterans Suicide Awareness Day, “Prevention and” creating Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day. The bill was approved by the committee and sent to the Senate floor. A companion to this bill will be heard next week in the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs committee. That companion bill is HF1526, authored by Rep. Matt Bliss of Pennington.

Throughout the week, MDVA gave presentations to three committees including House Capital Investment, House Preventing Homelessness and Senate Veterans and Military Affairs.