SF3955 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Commissioner of veterans affairs permission to close veterans homes under certain circumstances
Related bill: HF3522
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill would set rules for when Minnesota’s veterans homes can be closed and strengthen protections for residents during any closure. It also clarifies who is eligible for services and how the homes operate.
Key provisions
- The Minnesota veterans homes must provide nursing care and related health and social services to veterans and their spouses who meet the homes’ eligibility and admission requirements.
- The commissioner of veterans affairs may not close a veterans home unless closure is specifically authorized or required by a law enacted after July 1, 2015.
- Notwithstanding the above, the commissioner may close a veterans home if doing so is required by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, based on an involuntary termination notice.
- Before closing a home, the commissioner must ensure every resident is transferred, relocated, or discharged to the most appropriate setting in a safe and orderly manner, per section 144A.161 subdivision 6.
- Before closing, the commissioner must notify the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs about the closure.
How this changes current law
- Adds a clear, two-path closure framework: closures must be authorized by post-2015 law, or allowed under CMS involuntary termination rules.
- Establishes a mandatory resident transfer process to safe and appropriate settings before any closure.
- Creates an explicit notification requirement to top state leaders and relevant legislative committees prior to closing a veterans home.
- References existing definitions (the term “veteran” uses the meaning in section 197.447) to keep eligibility standards aligned with current law.
Practical effect and intent
- Provides stronger oversight and planning for any closure of a veterans home.
- Prioritizes resident safety and orderly transitions when closures occur.
- Ensures communication to government leaders and key lawmakers before a closure happens.
Terminology and phrases carried from the bill
- Minnesota veterans homes
- commissioner of veterans affairs
- close/closure
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements
- involuntary termination notice
- transferred relocated discharged
- most appropriate setting
- safe and orderly manner
- section 144A.161 subdivision 6
- governor
- chairs and ranking minority members
- legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs
- eligibility and admission requirements
- veteran (meaning as in section 197.447)
Definitions or clarifications
- The term veteran is defined as in section 197.447 for purposes of eligibility and services at the veterans homes.
Relevant Terms - veterans homes - commissioner - closure/close - CMS requirements - involuntary termination notice - transferred relocated discharged - most appropriate setting - safe and orderly - 144A.161 subdivision 6 - governor - chairs - ranking minority members - legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs - eligibility and admission requirements - veteran (197.447)
Past committee meetings
- Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development on: March 11, 2026 15:30
- Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans on: March 04, 2026 15:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 26, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 26, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development | |
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Action | Comm report: To pass as amended | ||
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Action | Second reading |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows the commissioner to close a veterans home in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements upon an involuntary termination notice.",
"Requires the veterans home to transfer, relocate, or discharge every resident in a safe and orderly manner to the most appropriate setting before closing.",
"Requires notice of a closure to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs.",
"Uses the definition of 'veteran' from Minn. Stat. 197.447 in this section."
],
"removed": [
"Removes the prior constraint that closure is only authorized by or required by a law enacted after July 1, 2015.",
"Supersedes the blanket prohibition on closing a veterans home with statutory closure only under post-2015 law."
],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 198.01 to govern eligibility and closures of Minnesota veterans homes, authorizing closure under CMS requirements, requiring transfer of residents prior to closure, and defining 'veteran' by another statute.",
"modified": [
"Recasts the closure framework from a law-enacted trigger to CMS-based standards and adds procedural safeguards (notice and resident transfers)."
]
},
"citation": "198.01",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires that any closure-related transfers comply with Minn. Stat. 144A.161, subd. 6."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill cross-references Minn. Stat. 144A.161, subdivision 6, to ensure residents are transferred, relocated, or discharged in a safe and orderly manner when a veterans home is closed.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates 144A.161, subd. 6 procedures into the closure process for veterans homes."
]
},
"citation": "144A.161",
"subdivision": "subdivision 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill relies on the definition of 'veteran' as provided in Minn. Stat. 197.447.",
"modified": [
"Uses the meaning of 'veteran' from Minn. Stat. 197.447 within section 198.01."
]
},
"citation": "197.447",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee