Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to enhance transparency and oversight in the distribution of grants by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. The legislation requires the commissioner to provide annual reports regarding the use of grants by organizations serving veterans and their families.

Main Provisions

• Annual Reporting: Starting January 15, 2026, the commissioner of veterans affairs must submit a yearly report detailing the grants awarded to organizations over the previous fiscal year.
• Report Content: Each report should include:
  1. The purpose of each grant.
  2. The exact amount awarded to every grantee.
  3. Historical data on previous grants a grantee received from the commissioner.
  4. Other state or federal grants received by the grantee that fiscal year.
  5. The number of veterans and active service members served.
  6. The number of family members of these veterans and service members served.
  7. Success rates of program completion by veterans and family members, including criteria for success.
  8. The grantee's charitable giving ratio.
• Out-of-State Service Reporting: If a grantee provides services funded by grants to veterans or their family members residing outside of Minnesota, the report must specify these states and justify the reason for offering services to non-residents.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduction of New Reporting Requirements: This bill proposes a new section in the Minnesota Statutes (chapter 197), establishing precise reporting requirements to ensure accountability for state-provided grant funds.

Relevant Terms

veterans affairs, commissioner, grants, fiscal year, grantee, veterans, service members, family members, transparency, legislative committees, charitable giving ratio, non-Minnesota residents.