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Minnesota House of Representatives

Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

TWELFTH MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Monday, March 4, 2024

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


VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES

Representative Jerry Newton, Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M., on March 4, 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
LISLEGARD, Dave
NORRIS, Matt
OLSON, Bjorn
WIENS, Mark


A quorum was present.

Representative Olson, B moved that the minutes from February 26, 2023, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF4336 (Bliss) Modifying prior appropriation for state veterans’ cemeteries; planning new veterans cemetery in northwestern Minnesota.

Chair Newton moved that HF4336 be referred to the Committee on Capital Investment.

Representative Bliss presented HF4336.

Testifiers:
• Andrew Garvais, Director of Veterans Programs and Memorial Affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF4336 be referred to the Committee on Capital Investment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF4335 (Bennett) Modifying veterans’ homes provisions.

Chair Newton moved that HF4335 be laid over for a possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

Representative Bennett presented HF4335.

Testifiers:
• Ben Johnson, Legislative Director (MDVA)

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF4335 be laid over for a possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

HF4344 (Coulter) Modifying provisions related to state soldiers’ assistance program education benefits

Chair Newton moved that HF4344 be referred to the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Coulter presented HF4344.

Testifiers:
• Andrew Garvais, Director of Veterans Programs and Memorial Affairs
• Doug Wortham, Deputy Director of Veterans Programs

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF4344 be referred to the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF4412 (Greenman) Modifying veterans home provisions.

Chair Newton moved that HF4412 be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Greenman presented HF4412.

Testifiers:
• Ben Johnson, Legislative Director (MDVA)

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF4412 be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3454 (Norris) Adjutant general authorized to establish referral bonus program for referrals leading to enlistment in or commissioning into the Minnesota National Guard.

Chair Newton moved that HF3454 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

Representative Norris moved to adopt the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Norris presented HF3454, as amended.

Chair Newton renewed the motion that HF3454, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a Veterans’ and Military Affairs omnibus.

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:
  • HF3454 (Norris) - Adjutant general powers expanded, veterans home provisions modified, armories provisions modified, veterans policy provisions amended, and veterans Meals on Wheels program grant availability extended.
  • HF4336 (Bliss) - State veterans cemeteries prior appropriation modified, and new veterans cemetery planned in northwestern Minnesota.
  • HF4344 (Coulter) - State soldiers assistance program education benefits provisions modified.
  • HF4335 (Bennett) - Veterans homes provisions modified.
  • HF4334 (Olson) - Veterans; veteran's preference provisions modified, state benefits prohibited when veterans and former service members forfeit federal benefits, veterans home administrators oversight modified, and new state veterans cemetery planning required.
  • HF4412 (Greenman) - Veterans home provisions modified.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:26 - HF4336 (Bliss) State veterans cemeteries prior appropriation modified, and new veterans cemetery planned in northwestern Minnesota.
07:08 - HF4334 (Olson, B.) Making a veteran, former service member, or their spouse/dependent not eligible for state-funded benefits, services, or programs if the veteran or former service member has forfeited federal benefits.
13:42 - HF4335 (Bennett) Veterans homes provisions modified.
15:45 - HF4344 (Coulter) State soldiers assistance program education benefits provisions modified.
33:42 - HF4412 (Greenman) Veterans home provisions modified.
36:230 - HF3454 (Norris) Adjutant General authorized to establish referral bonus program for referrals leading to enlistment in or commissioning into the Minnesota National Guard.
Runs 40 minutes.

HF4336 (Bliss) - Modifying prior appropriation for state veterans cemeteries; planning new veterans cemetery in northwestern Minnesota

HF4334 (Olson) - Providing that a veteran, veteran's spouse or dependent, former service member of the armed forces, or former service member's spouse or dependent shall not qualify for state-funded benefits, services, or programs if the veteran or former service member has forfeited federal benefits

HF4335 (Bennett) - Modifying veterans homes provisions

HF4344 (Coulter) - Modifying provisions related to state soldiers assistance program education benefits

HF4412 (Greenman) - Modifying veterans home provisions

HF3454 (Norris) - Adjutant general authorized to establish referral bonus program for referrals leading to enlistment in or commissioning into the Minnesota National Guard.

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.