Conference committee adopts veterans omnibus agreement, adds recognition for Special Guerrilla Unit veterans amid objections

May 16, 2025 — The Veterans and Military Omnibus Conference Committee adopted a conference agreement on SF 1959 (article 2) and an amendment (A14) that adds statutory recognition and administrative procedures for veterans of Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) forces who are verified as eligible. The committee also approved budget adjustments that conference staff said increase general fund spending for veterans and military programs in the 2026–27 biennium.

The agreement funds staff and operations at the state Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Military Affairs, continues homelessness-prevention and food-security grants, and directs nonpartisan staff to incorporate the A14 language into the final conference committee report. Supporters said the package will allow three newly built veterans homes to staff up and expand services; opponents said a related SGU provision unfairly excludes some allied irregular veterans and vowed to continue the fight in future sessions.

Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked conferees through the spreadsheet labeled May 16, 2025. For the Department of Military Affairs, staff listed a proposed operating adjustment of $600,000 in 2026–27 and $802,000 in the tails; an $8,000,000 one-time appropriation for enlistment and retention bonuses; $242,000 for a holistic health and fitness initiative; and $750,000 in the biennium for a cyber coordination cell. Staff also flagged an open appropriation related to National Guard pension offsets that was referenced to House File 2338.

For the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, staff summarized operating…