ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed the Veterans Affairs Conference Committee Report, finalizing a bipartisan agreement that strengthens mental health services, funds veterans’ homes, and delivers long-overdue pension fairness for the National Guard.
The conference report preserves the core priorities passed earlier this session, including:
- A major investment in suicide prevention, aimed at reducing the tragic loss of nearly 100 veterans per year in Minnesota.
- Pension credit for National Guard members deployed for state active duty—treating service during floods and wildfires with the same respect as federal deployments.
- Honorary recognition for Special Guerrilla Units (SGUs) who assisted U.S. forces in Vietnam, without redefining what it means to be a veteran.
- A provision to honor Gold and Blue Star families with a permanent plaque on the Capitol Mall, recognizing their sacrifice on behalf of a grateful state.
New to the final agreement is full funding for Minnesota’s eight Veterans Homes, including new facilities that opened last year.
Representative Matt Bliss (R-Pennington), Republican Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Division, praised the final report as a testament to bipartisan commitment.
“The final version of this bill reflects the best outcome we could responsibly achieve in a tough budget year,” Bliss said. “We fought to protect core priorities, like fully funding our veteran homes and expanding suicide prevention efforts. It’s not the bill we would’ve written in a better fiscal environment, but it's a meaningful step in the right direction that honors our service members and their families.
The final agreement passed with strong bipartisan support, passing 130-0, and now heads to the Governor’s desk.
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