SF4090 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Veterans benefits services disclosure requirements modification
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill changes how veterans benefits appeal services are advertised and how disclosures about those services are handled. It repeals existing requirements that ads must tell people about free services offered by county veterans service officers. It also sets up definitions related to advertising and veterans benefits services, and references a written disclosure statement developed by the commissioner of veterans affairs.
Key Definitions
- Advertising or advertisement: any written, printed, or electronic communication that solicits business for veterans benefits appeal services. This includes brochures, letters, directories, newspapers, radio, TV, computer networks, and other similar transmissions.
- Exclusions: writing on buildings, uniforms, or badges for identification; or writing in a memorandum or normal business communication where the purpose is not to solicit veterans benefits appeal services.
- Veterans benefits appeal services: services a veteran might reasonably need to appeal a denial of federal or state veterans benefits. This covers benefits such as disability, limited income, home loan, insurance, education and training, burial and memorial, and dependent/survivor benefits.
- Veterans benefits services: services a veteran or a family member might use to obtain federal, state, or county veterans benefits.
- Written disclosure statement: the written disclosure statement developed by the commissioner of veterans affairs under section 196.05 subdivision 1.
- (Reference) Section 196.05 subdivision 1: the legal basis for the written disclosure statement.
Repeals and Changes to Law
- Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 197.6091 subdivisions 2 and 5.
- Subdivision 2 formerly required advertising disclosures that veterans benefits appeal services are also offered at no cost by county veterans service officers under certain sections.
- Subdivision 5 contained a nonapplicability provision related to the advertising disclosure requirement.
- After repeal, the explicit advertising disclosure about free county services is removed. A written disclosure statement is defined, but the bill does not specify that this statement must be used in advertising.
Main Provisions in Practice
- The definitions in subdivision 1 are updated to clearly describe what counts as advertising and what counts as veterans benefits appeal services.
- The removal of the old advertising-disclosure requirement means advertisers are no longer mandated to state that county veterans service officers provide free services, though the bill retains a definition for a written disclosure statement that could be used in other contexts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Advertising disclosures about free county-provided services are removed.
- The scope of what counts as advertising for veterans benefits appeal services is broadened to include a wider range of communications (including digital and broadcast media).
- A written disclosure statement is defined, tied to a separate statutory framework, but its mandatory use in advertising is not specified in the text provided.
Practical Implications
- Veterans and families may encounter fewer mandatory notices in ads about free county-officer services.
- Advertisers must consider the broadened definition of advertising and ensure compliance with any other applicable statutes or future rules.
- The introduction of a defined written disclosure statement could influence future disclosures, even if not required in all advertisements under this bill.
Note on Terms and Context
- The bill uses terms such as advertising, Veterans benefits appeal services, and written disclosure statement. It also references county veterans service officers and the statutes they operate under (196.05 subdivision 1) in relation to the written disclosure framework.
Relevant Terms - advertising - advertisement - veterans benefits appeal services - veterans benefits services - written disclosure statement - county veterans service officers - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 197.6091 - section 196.05 subdivision 1 - disability benefits - benefits appeal (general)
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Defines Advertising or advertisement to include written or printed communications soliciting veterans benefits appeal services, directory listings indicating such services, and electronic transmissions soliciting services.",
"Defines Written disclosure statement as the written disclosure statement developed by the commissioner of veterans affairs pursuant to section 196.05, subdivision 1."
],
"removed": [
"Repeals subdivision 2, advertising disclosure requirements, and subdivision 5, nonapplicability clause, from section 197.6091 (to the extent applicable to the definitions in subdivision 1)."
],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.6091, subdivision 1 to redefine advertising and related terms, and to define the written disclosure statement (linked to section 196.05, subdivision 1).",
"modified": [
"Amends the definitions in subdivision 1 to reflect broader forms of advertising and to link to the written disclosure statement."
]
},
"citation": "197.6091",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Advertising disclosure requirement that a person advertising veterans benefits appeal services must disclose that such services are also offered at no cost by county veterans service officers under sections 197.603 and 197.604."
],
"summary": "Subd. 2, Advertising disclosure requirements, is repealed by this act.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "197.6091",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Nonapplicability clause exempting owners or personnel of any medium from the advertising disclosure requirement."
],
"summary": "Subd. 5, Nonapplicability, is repealed by this act.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "197.6091",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Written disclosure statement is the disclosure developed as referenced by 196.05, subdivision 1."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to the Written disclosure statement defined by the commissioner under section 196.05, subdivision 1.",
"modified": [
"Links the written disclosure statement to 196.05, subdivision 1 but does not create new obligations within 196.05 itself."
]
},
"citation": "196.05",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Intersects with county veterans service officers; cited in relation to no-cost veterans benefits services referenced in the bill.",
"modified": [
"Cross-reference to 197.603 in relation to advertising disclosures; potential substantive impact due to repeal of subd 2."
]
},
"citation": "197.603",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Intersects with county veterans service officers; cited in relation to no-cost veterans benefits services referenced in the bill.",
"modified": [
"Cross-reference to 197.604 in relation to advertising disclosures; potential substantive impact due to repeal of subd 2."
]
},
"citation": "197.604",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee