Lawmakers finalized their commitment to keep Veterans issues away from the typical political gamesmanship at the State Capitol when they voted for final passage of the Veterans and Military Affairs omnibus bill. The bill now heads to Governor Walz for his signature.

On Monday, May 1 the Conference Committee for HF1937 met for the first and only time. The chairs, Rep. Jerry Newton and Sen. Nicole Mitchell, announced they were close to an agreement. That agreement was posted on the afternoon of Saturday, May 6. All six members of the conference committee signed off in support.

That support set up the final passage needed in both chambers.

The House took up the conference committee report for passage on Monday, May 8. The vote was unanimous at 131-0. The Senate took up final passage the next afternoon with a vote of 61-5. The final language that was passed for HF1937 can be found here.

While the Veterans and Military Affairs omnibus bill represents the bulk of the work for Veterans and their families at the legislature, there are still outstanding items that need to be completed. Those items include but are not limited to an infrastructure bill for MDVA buildings throughout the state, a tax bill that makes modifications to the Homestead Market Exclusion for disabled Veterans and their spouses and the waiving of transportation related fees for 100% permanently disabled Veterans in the transportation bill.

The legislature will conclude its work no later than May 22, but leaders think they may be able to finish work by Thursday, the 18.