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HF193 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Commissioner of veterans affairs required to provide grave markers for veterans, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF866

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • The bill aims to help veterans by allowing the state to provide grave markers for veterans and by creating funding to support this purpose.

Main Provisions

  • Section 1 (Authorization): The commissioner of veterans affairs may, within available funds and upon request from a county veterans service officer or any congressionally chartered veterans organization, provide an appropriate grave marker for the grave of any veteran defined under section 197.447. The marker must be used for memorial purposes to permanently mark the grave of a veteran buried within Minnesota.
  • Section 2 (Appropriation): For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, money from the general fund is appropriated to the commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers under the authority in section 1. This is an ongoing appropriation.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Adds explicit authorization for the commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans’ graves, subject to available funds and appropriate requests.
  • Establishes an ongoing general fund appropriation (for 2026 and 2027) to support the provision of these grave markers.

How It Works (Implementation)

  • Who can request: County veterans service officers or congressionally chartered veterans organizations.
  • Who qualifies: Veterans defined under section 197.447.
  • Where: Graves of veterans buried within the limits of Minnesota.
  • Purpose of markers: Memorial purposes to permanently mark the grave.

Financial Implications

  • Creates an ongoing state funding stream from the general fund for 2026 and 2027 to fund grave markers, with final costs determined by the availability of funds.

Terminology to Note

  • commissioner of veterans affairs
  • grave marker / grave markers
  • veterans (as defined under section 197.447)
  • county veterans service officer
  • congressionally chartered veterans organization
  • memorial purposes
  • permanently mark the grave
  • buried within the limits of the state
  • Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 197.23 subdivision 1
  • appropriation
  • general fund
  • fiscal year 2026
  • fiscal year 2027
  • ongoing appropriation

Relevant Terms

  • commissioner of veterans affairs
  • grave markers
  • veterans
  • 197.447
  • available funds
  • request
  • county veterans service officer
  • congressionally chartered veterans organization
  • memorial purposes
  • permanently mark the grave
  • Minnesota
  • 197.23 subdivision 1
  • appropriation
  • general fund
  • fiscal year 2026
  • fiscal year 2027
  • ongoing appropriation

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 10, 2025HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toVeterans and Military Affairs Division

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Authorizes the commissioner of veterans affairs to provide a grave marker for the grave of a veteran upon request and within available funds.",
        "Requires that any marker be used for memorial purposes to permanently mark the grave of a veteran within Minnesota.",
        "Creates an ongoing appropriation from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund grave markers under this section."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 197.23, subdivision 1, to authorize the commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans within the state, upon request and within available funds, and to define the purpose of marker usage.",
      "modified": [
        "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 197.23, subdivision 1, to add authority to provide grave markers and specify the funding mechanism."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "197.23",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "References the definition of 'veteran' as provided in Minnesota Statutes section 197.447."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill uses the existing Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 to define who is considered a veteran for the purposes of grave markers.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "197.447",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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