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Minnesota House of Representatives

Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

ELEVENTH MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Monday, February 26, 2024

STATE OF MINNESOTA ELEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION


VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES

Representative Jerry Newton, Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance & Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M., on February 26, 2024 in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
NEWTON, Jerry, Chair
ELKINS, Steve, Vice-Chair
BLISS, Matt, Minority Lead
BENNETT, Peggy
CLARDY, Mary Frances
COULTER, Nathan
GREENMAN, Emma
HUDELLA, Shane
NORRIS, Matt
OLSON, Bjorn
WIENS, Mark

Members excused:
LISLEGARD, Dave



A quorum was present.

Representative Norris moved that the minutes from March 27, 2023, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Overview of session priorities from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Presenters:
• Commissioner Brad Lindsey, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)
• Legislative Director, Ben Johnson, (MDVA)
• Deputy Commissioner, Eric Meittonen (MDVA)

Overview of session priorities from the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.

Presenters:
• Nathaniel Saltz, Chief Program Officer, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

HF3870 (Olson, B) Armory provisions modified.

Chair Newton moved that HF3870 be referred to the Committee on Capital Investment.

Representative Olson, B presented HF3870.

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF3870 be referred to the Committee on Capital Investment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3790 (Wiens) Reporting on grants issued by the commissioner of veterans’ affairs required.

Chair Newton moved that HF3790 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

Representative Wiens presented HF3790.

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF3790 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.



HF1666 (Hudella) Veteran service officers authorized to receive vital records without a fee.

Chair Newton moved that HF1666 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

Representative Hudella presented HF1666.

Testifiers:
• Greg Peterson, Director of Veterans Service, Brown County VSO
• John Baker, Executive Director, (MACVSO)

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF1666 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

HF3746 (Hill) Hometown Hero Outdoors grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill is being heard on an informational basis.

Representative Hill presented HF3746.

Testifiers:
• Christopher Tetrault
• Chris Urman
• Brian Chaffee
• Erik Mossberg
• Jason Kuehn
• Shane Libera


HF3505 (Knudsen) Property tax provisions modified, and exclusion amount increased for homesteads of veterans with disabilities.

This bill is being heard on an informational basis.

Representative Knudsen presented HF3505.

Testifiers:
• Trent Dilks, Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota
• Brad Williams, Licensed Realtor and Mortgage Broker
• Greg Peterson, Director of Veterans Service, Brown County VSO

The meeting was adjourned at 2:25 P.M.







Representative Jerry Newton, Chair



Robin Schmidt, Committee Legislative Assistant


More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3870 (Olson) - Armory provisions modified.
  • HF3790 (Wiens) - Reporting on grants issued by commissioner of veterans affairs required.
  • HF1666 (Hudella) - Veteran service officers authorized to receive vital records without a fee.
  • HF3505 (Knudsen) - Property tax provisions modified, and exclusion amount increased for homesteads of veterans with disabilities.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

1:12 - Department of Veteran Affairs session priorities.
45:47 - HF3870 (Olson, B.) Armory provisions modified.
47:03 - HF3790 (Wiens) Reporting on grants issued by commissioner of veterans affairs required.
51:51 - HF1666 (Hudella) Veteran service officers authorized to receive vital records without a fee.
1:00:14 - HF3746 (Hill) Hometown Hero Outdoors grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
1:21:09 - HF3505 (Knudsen) Property tax provisions modified, and exclusion amount increased for homesteads of veterans with disabilities.
Runs 1 hour 32 minutes.

Overview of session priorities from the Department of Veteran Affairs

Presentation from the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans

HF3870 (Olson, B.) Armory provisions modified.

HF3790 (Wiens) Reporting on grants issued by commissioner of veterans affairs required.

HF1666 (Hudella) Veteran service officers authorized to receive vital records without a fee.

HF3746 (Hill) Hometown Hero Outdoors grant funding provided, and money appropriated.**

HF3505 (Knudsen) Property tax provisions modified, and exclusion amount increased for homesteads of veterans with disabilities.**

** This bill is being heard on an informational basis.

All agenda items subject to change at the discretion of the Chair.

TESTIMONY: If you would like to testify or provide handouts to the committee please email jack.dockendorf@house.mn.gov no later than 5pm the day before the hearing. Written testimony received after this time may not be included in members' packets.

DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents may be found on the Housing Finance and Policy Committee webpage.

ACCESSIBILITY: To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator, Jack Dockendorf (jack.dockendorf@house.mn.gov).

LIVESTREAM: This hearing may be viewed on the House webcast schedule page. All video events are closed captioned with automatically generated captions.