The first Veterans-related bill cleared a vote of a full legislative chamber while a few others were heard in committees last week ahead of the legislature’s first round of deadlines.

On Monday, March 23, the Minnesota House took up HF 3741 authored by Rep. Josiah Hill for a vote on the floor. This bill seeks to make important updates to Veterans Higher Education-related sections of law in Chapter 197. It passed unanimously 134-0. The companion bill in the Senate is awaiting a floor vote.

The House Veterans and Military Affairs Division met on Wednesday, March 25 and heard three Veterans-related bills. Rep. Bjorn Olson presented HF 3532 which expands burial eligibility at State Veterans Cemeteries to former members of the National Guard and the Reserves that don’t qualify as a Veteran, as well as spouses and unmarried children under the age of 23. The bill was approved and sent to the House floor.

The next bill was HF 4492 authored by Rep. Matt Bliss. It establishes the Commanders’ Task Force into state statute. Upon committee approval, it was sent to the House floor.

Rep. Kari Rehrauer presented HF 4171 as the final bill on the division’s agenda. The bill waives municipal fees related to residential improvement for disabled Veterans seeking to make their home more accessible because of service-connected injuries. The division approved the bill and re-referred it to the Elections and Local Government committee.

The final bill heard last week was Sen Susan Pha’s SF 4075 in the Senate Transportation committee. This bill would extend limited benefits for Veterans of the Secret War in Laos as well as establishing an eligibility application process. The Transportation committee heard the bill because one of the benefits proposed is providing drivers’ licenses with a “SGU VET” indicator. The committee approved the bill and referred it to the Finance committee, which will be the bill’s final committee stop.

The first and second deadline was on Friday, March 27. If a bill that doesn’t have an appropriation wasn’t approved by committees before then, it likely won’t continue through the legislative process.

Finally, the legislature is taking a break this week for Easter and Passover and will return on Tuesday, April 7.