HF193
Commissioner of veterans affairs required to provide grave markers for veterans, and money appropriated.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
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
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 10, 2025 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Veterans and Military Affairs Division | |
| Showing the 5 most recent stages. This bill has 1 stages in total. Log in to view all stages | |||||
Citations
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Progress through the legislative process
In Committee
Sponsors
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