Minnesota Legislature
2023-2024 Regular Session
New law funds veterans and military affairs departments
New veterans’ homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston that are due to open in 2023 will receive a combined $20 million, under one provision of a new law that provides funding for the Veterans Affairs and Military Affairs departments.
Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Newton (DFL-Coon Rapids) and Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury), the law includes $378.68 million in net General Fund spending from fiscal years 2023-25 – an increase of $132.15 million.
That new spending includes $90.06 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs and $39.14 million for the Department of Military Affairs.
The VA will receive $20.06 million in operational funding for startup costs at the new veterans homes for expenses such as hiring and training new staff.
Other major new spending appropriations in the law include:
• $33.23 million to the VA for an operating adjustment;
• $17.6 million to build an Army Combat Fitness Test Field House in Arden Hills for soldiers to train for the tests they must pass to maintain physical readiness;
• $15 million for service bonuses to post-9/11 veterans;
• $14.06 million to design and build the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley;
• $7 million to increase supportive housing grants for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans;
• $3.56 million for a funding increase to state veterans cemeteries; and
• $3 million for enlistment and retention bonuses.
The Minnesota National Guard will receive $1.53 million to staff Holistic Health and Fitness initiatives the U.S. Army has adopted and invested heavily in as a core part of its physical training program, and there is $1.11 million for the Guard to create a Cyber Coordination Cell to staff its cyber initiatives and work with other state and federal agencies to plan for and respond to cyber incidents.
The law, which has various effective dates, also establishes a Veteran Domiciliary Resident Quality of Care Working Group consisting of several state agencies, medical professionals, people with expertise in boarding care and interested members of the public.
The group is to analyze the acuity of domiciliary residents and their current care model to provide recommendations on issues such as training, staffing levels, management structure and whether the resident care being offered is “appropriate and adequate.” A report is due to the Legislature by Jan. 15, 2024.
HF1937*/SF2247/CH38