Both Veterans committees in the Senate and House met last week as work ramps up this session.

The Senate Subcommittee on Veterans met Monday afternoon. While no bills were heard, the committee heard three presentations. The Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum provided an update on construction progress ahead of its opening later this year. Then MDVA presented its report on a Veteran Suicide Prevention Plan. Finally, the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers provided an overview of the organization.

On Wednesday morning the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division heard a presentation from the Commanders’ Task Force, as well as three bills.

The first bill that was heard came from Rep. Matt Bliss (Pennington), co-chair of the committee. His bill HF 3540 would add Veterans or military status to the Minnesota Human Rights Act. It was approved and sent to the Judiciary and Civil Law committee.

Rep. Bidal Duran (Bemidji) presented HF 3522. This is a department policy bill that would allow MDVA to temporarily close a Veterans Home in very limited circumstances if given an involuntary closure notice by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bill was approved and sent to the House floor.

The last bill heard was Rep. Aaron Repinski’s (Winona) HF 3544. This is MDVA’s Housekeeping and Federal conformity bill. It seeks to reclassify the agency Chief of Staff position as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration, align federal forfeited benefits with state benefits and repeal outdated statutes. The bill was approved and sent to the Health Finance and Policy committee.

Veterans committees in the House and Senate are both expected to meet at their respective times this Wednesday, March 4.