Last week, the legislature heard 11 total bills throughout committees in the House and the Senate as we get closer to deadlines as April approaches.

On Monday, the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans heard SF 2259 from Rep. Mary Kunesh (New Brighton). It would create a task force and appropriate funds for a Native American Veterans Memorial at the Capitol Complex. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to the full Agriculture and Veterans committee. The subcommittee also heard testimony from Native American Veterans.

Three bills were heard on Tuesday. In the House Judiciary Committee, HF 1662 (Rehrauer – Coon Rapids) would allow MAXIS database access to MDVA’s stable housing initiative to better connect Veterans with state and federal benefits. The bill was amended, passed and sent to the House Floor. HF 1225 (Skraba – Ely) would eliminate ATV registration fees for disabled Veterans and was heard in the House Environment and Natural Resources committee. It was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The last bill heard was HF 982 (Clardy – Inver Grove Heights) which would create a post-secondary education benefit for 100% disabled Veterans. The bill was passed by the House Higher Education committee and sent to the Veterans and Military Affairs committee.

The following six bills were heard on Wednesday-

• HF 1855 (Greenman – Minneapolis): Veterans benefit services federal accreditation required, service providers guarantees of benefits prohibited, and remedies and civil penalties provided.
  • Bill was approved by House Veterans and Military Affairs and re-referred to House Judiciary and Civil Law.
• SF 568 (Hawj – St. Paul): Veteran definition expansion and advisory task force establishment
  • Bill was approved by Senate Veterans Subcommittee and sent to full Agriculture and Veterans committee.
• SF 1959 (Putnam – St. Cloud): MDVA and Department Military Affairs budget recommendations.
  • Bill was laid over.
• SF 1706 (Kupec – Moorhead): Companion bill to HF 1662 (Rehrauer) for MDVA Maxis database access.
  • Bill was approved by Senate Veterans Subcommittee and sent to full Agriculture and Veterans committee. On Friday the full committee approved the bill and re-referred it to Judiciary.
• SF 2550 (Kupec – Moorhead): Fargo Memorial Honor Guard construction of a chapel and parking lot and related infrastructure at veterans national cemetery in North Dakota appropriation.
  • Bill was laid over.
• SF 488 (Green – Fosston): Veteran retreats appropriation for Independent Lifestyles Camp Bliss in Walker.
  • Bill was laid over.

SF 2259 (Kunesh) was heard again on Friday in the full Agriculture and Veterans Committee. The Committee approved the bill and re-referred it to State and Local Government.

Finally on Friday, SF 2259 (Putnam – St. Cloud) was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill seeks to require federal accreditation for Veteran benefit service providers. It was amended and approved by the committee. It was re-referred back to the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee.