Committee lays over $ request for Hometown Heroes Outdoors after testimony on outdoor mental-health programs for first responders

House File 491, an appropriation request for Hometown Heroes Outdoors to provide outdoor, peer-supported mental-health programming for first responders, was laid over for possible inclusion after a lengthy hearing and stakeholder testimony on Feb. 18, 2025.

Representative Kelly Hill introduced the measure and said the proposal would support outdoor “healing opportunities” for first responders. Christopher Tetrault, identified as president and co‑founder of Hometown Heroes Outdoors, described the organization’s work and supplied participant data to the committee: "We have taken approximately 5,700 people outside, 2,700 of those have been Minnesotans," Tetrault said. He told members the group provides hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as an adjunct, peer-supported form of therapy aimed at reducing PTSD, depression and suicide risk.

Tetrault described program measurement and a proposed spending plan for an appropriation: about $100 per person per day in program costs; 50% of requested funds directed to Outdoor Adventures, 30% to mental-health training for volunteers (including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills training), 10% to outreach and growth, and 10% to operational costs. He said Hometown Heroes operates with more than 90% of funds going directly to programs and that volunteers are unpaid.

Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA), testified in support and said the programs provide a third-party option separate from agency employee assistance programs. "When they reach out for help they're sometimes ostracized from the department," Peters said, urging committee support for House File 491.

Committee members generally expressed support but also discussed fiscal oversight. Representative Erin Mueller and others said they prefer grant or competitive procurement structures for state funds to ensure oversight and statewide reach; members suggested language changes or alternative appropriation mechanisms to allow competitive distribution and reporting requirements. Representative Hill said he appreciates the feedback and requested consideration; the chair laid House File 491 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The hearing included questions about which populations are served (Tetrault said Hometown Heroes serves military service members, veterans and first responders but that the present request targets first responders), program geography (26 states total; 2,700 Minnesota participants), and partnerships with organizations such as Canterbury Park’s therapeutic programs. No final appropriation vote was taken; the item was laid over for further consideration.