The week of the first legislative deadline tends to bring a flurry of activity, this week was no exception. 12 Veterans related bills moved throughout the legislative process, the most this year. One bill was even passed unanimously off the House floor.

On Monday, the Minnesota House voted 132-0 on HF 3001 authored by Rep. Bob Dettmer (Forest Lake). This bill permits Veterans to file their discharge papers with the county recorder, regardless of their branch of service. Previously, only the Army, Nav and Marine Corps certificates were accepted when the statute was first written in 1919. The companion to this bill awaits a vote by the full state Senate.

The House Tax committee heard Rep. Mike Sundin’s (Esko) HF 2091 on Tuesday. The bill allows Veterans receiving a civilian pension through the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to subtract the percentage share of their federal pension that was earned by converting a military pension into service credit for a civilian pension. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus tax bill.

Also on Tuesday, the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs committee met and heard four bills. These bills were also all laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus Veterans and Military Affairs bill.

HF 4365 is authored by Rep. Julie Sandstede (Hibbing). The bill modifies statute to add definitions of which Veterans are eligible for a bonus program and appropriates money to fund such a program for Veterans of the post-9/11 conflicts.

HF 4337 is authored by Rep. Kaela Berg (Burnsville). The bill appropriates funds for MDVA’s homes for Veterans program, provides incentives for landlords to help homeless Veterans and remove barriers to permanent housing for homeless Veterans.

HF 4324 is authored by committee chairman Rob Ecklund (International Falls). It provides money to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) to provide housing and other support for Veterans and formers service members and their families.

HF 4358 is also authored by Chair Ecklund. The bill funds temporary housing options to homeless Veterans and allows the agency to increase outreach activities to end Veteran homelessness.

The committee met again on Wednesday and heard three Veterans bills. These bills were also all laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus Veterans and Military Affairs bill.

HF 4333 is authored by Vice Chair Tou Xiong (Maplewood). It increases the funding for the County Veterans Service Officer grant that MDVA administers. It also expands the purposes for which unexpended funds can be used to better serve Veterans and their families.

HF 4334 is authored by Rep. Luke Frederick (Mankato). The bill appropriates money to MDVA for operations of state Veterans cemeteries with the expectation that the Redwood County State Veterans Cemetery will be opening within the next year.

HF 4335 is authored by Rep. Heather Edelson (Edina). The bill increases the grant for congressionally chartered Veterans Services Organizations.

The Senate Veterans committee met on Thursday morning and heard three Veterans bills.

SF 4181 is authored by Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (Winona). It provides funding to the three new Veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. The funds can be utilized for furniture, fixtures, and equipment at all three homes. The bill was approved by the committee and re-referred to the Finance committee.

SF 2933 is authored by Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen (Edina). The bill appropriates funds to Metro Meals on Wheels and would provide home-delivered meals to Veterans. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans and Military Affairs omnibus.

SF 3875 is authored by committee chair Andrew Lang. Like SF 4181, this bill provides funding to the new Veterans homes. The bill was approved and sent to the Finance committee.

Next week is the second legislative deadline with more bills expected to be heard in House and Senate committees.