The Governor and legislative leaders agreed to joint budget targets on Thursday, May 15. As noted in past updates, this was needed in order to get conference committees moving, including SF 1959, the Veterans and Military Affairs omnibus bill.

With targets in place, the SF 1959 conference committee met on Friday morning and agreed to a conference committee report for the full legislature to take up on the floors of the House and Senate. The targets allowed the conference committee to fully fund MDVA’s budget request that was made at the beginning of session, rather than the cuts to homelessness prevention programs and other inadequate funding levels proposed in the House version.

There are many provisions in the bill, but particularly this funding will allow MDVA to continue ramping up staffing levels at the three new Veterans homes, as well as maintain those levels at the existing homes. It will continue Minnesota’s progress to become the next state to put a functional end to Veterans homelessness. There is more dedicated funding to increase awareness and prevent Veterans suicide in the state, while directing MDVA to provide a comprehensive plan to the legislature on this issue next session. There is also funding to address food insecurity through grants to Metro Meals on Wheels and the Lutheran Social Services CORE program.

On Saturday afternoon, the Senate took up the Conference Committee Report for SF 1959. After some debate the final vote was 45-19. The House would take it up a few hours later and pass the agreed upon language unanimously, 130-0. It will now be sent to Governor Walz for his signature in the coming days.