The calls from Veterans Day on the Hill on were heard in the halls of the State Capitol. For the first time in this modern era of legislating, a Veterans and Military Affairs omnibus bill was passed overwhelmingly by the Minnesota House and Senate. 16 days after the rally in the rotunda on April 20, the bill heads to the Governor’s office for a signature.

The move towards this bill becoming a reality started on the morning of May 5 when the Senate Finance Committee met with SF 4233 on the agenda. This bill is authored by Sen. Andrew Lang, chair of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs committee. He amended the bill to include language that was agreed upon with Rep. Rob Ecklund, chair of the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs committee. They both had support from the ranking members of their committees Sen. Jerry Newton and Rep. Bob Dettmer. After the amendment was adopted, the committee passed the bill to the Senate floor.

Later that afternoon the Senate brought up SF 4233 for a vote. After discussion, the bill was passed unanimously.

The next day the House received the bill from the Senate and took it up for a vote. It passed with a vote of 122-1. SF 4233 will be sent to Governor Walz where he will sign it into law.

The bill contains the following Veterans related sections-

• A bonus program for Minnesota Veterans that served in Post 9/11 conflicts. Gold Star Families are also included in the program.
• Funds for the new Veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. These funds can be used for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. The funding also helps cover the cost of amenities that were scaled back to rising construction costs.
• Funds to operate the new Minnesota Veterans Cemetery – Redwood Falls. The cemetery is expected to begin operation later this year.
• Increased grant funding for County Veterans Service Officers. The grant was changed to allow a competitive grant program for counties to provide new and innovative programs and services to Veterans and their families.
• Increased grant funding for congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organizations.
• Funding was provided to support the construction of a Fisher House at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, ND. Fisher Houses are similar to Ronald McDonald Houses.
• The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) also received new funding for their work to end Veterans Homelessness.
• Funds a grant to upgrade wastewater infrastructure at the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake.
• Other initiatives to end Veterans Homelessness was funded including increase engagement and outreach activities, temporary housing options and support for landlord engagement.

The Military Affairs sections include a grant to the Minnesota Navy League to support the commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul and funding for the Minnesota National Guards enlistment incentives program.

The legislature still has 16 days to pass bills before the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of May 23. More Veterans related initiatives could be passed, but the bulk of the progress was made this week.