Committee hears bill to direct veterans' gaming tax revenues to Post War Trust Fund and homelessness programs

The House Finance and Taxation Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 15‑04, a measure that would direct 50% of gaming tax revenue collected from veteran service organizations to the state Post War Trust Fund and 50% to grants aimed at preventing and eliminating homelessness among North Dakota veterans.

Representative Mary Schneider, who said she represents District 21 (Central Fargo and West Fargo), told the committee the bill “proposes changes to ensure that a portion of gaming funds, those funds only from veteran services organizations, is directed towards services for veterans.” She told the panel the proposal would send “Half ... to the Department of Veteran Affairs Post War Trust Fund ... and half would go to prevent and eliminate current homelessness among North Dakota veterans.”

The bill’s backers said the split is intended to address both immediate needs and long‑term stability for veterans. Lonnie Longan, commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, summarized the Post War Trust Fund (fund 410) history and operation and described why the department supports making some funds immediately available for grants while also growing the trust’s principal. Longan said the Post War Trust Fund is created under the state constitution and North Dakota Century Code provisions for veterans funds and that, as of Nov. 24…