Forfeiture of veteran benefits, title change at Department of Veterans Affairs

Organizational structure change at the Veterans Affairs Department and conformity with federal veterans’ benefits policy are among the components of a new law that takes effect Aug. 1, 2026.

Sponsored by Rep. Aaron Repinski (R-Winona) and Sen. Robert Kupec (DFL-Moorhead), the law will reclassify the chief of staff position to deputy commissioner of administration to align the department with similar-sized agencies and ensure parity among division leaders, strengthening organizational clarity and authority.

The law also provides that any veteran who has forfeited federal veteran benefits is also ineligible for state benefits.

And two statutes are eliminated: the “Environmental Hazards Information and Assistance Act” enacted in 1982 to address the issue of veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other chemical agents, and one that requires the department to collect and maintain data about Minnesota residents who died from service-connected causes.

HF3544*/SF4072/CH50

HF3544* / SF4072 / CH50