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Ways and Means hears veterans affairs budget; bill laid over pending Senate file
Summary
The committee reviewed the House veterans affairs omnibus budget, discussed funding priorities including veterans homes staffing, suicide prevention and homelessness programs, and laid the bill over until the Senate file arrives. Members expressed concern over a large reduction to homelessness prevention funding.
The House Ways and Means Committee reviewed House File 02/1944, the veterans affairs and military affairs omnibus budget bill, on April 16 and laid the bill over until the corresponding Senate file is available.
Chair Bliss, who led the bill presentation, said the committee prioritized efforts to reduce veteran suicide and to staff Minnesota's veterans homes. The bill was developed against a $5 million committee target and includes a $11.6 million adjustment intended to help staff three veterans homes built in recent years, a $2.2 million increase for suicide prevention, and a one‑time reduction of about $10 million for homelessness prevention programs relative to the existing base, which nonpartisan staff characterized as a cut from a $12.7 million biennial base to $2.7 million.
Nonpartisan fiscal staff (Helen Roberts) summarized overall division appropriations: approximately $57.9 million for the Department of Military Affairs and $261.9 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs, with total division spending on the change‑from‑base spreadsheet of roughly $319.7 million for the biennium.
Several members voiced strong objections to the homelessness funding reduction. Representative Gomez said large cuts to homelessness prevention risk returning veterans to unsheltered situations and stressed that intensive case‑management and the VA-maintained by‑name list have been central to achieving “functional zero” homelessness. Representative Muller and others said federal pressures and staffing cuts make maintaining state supports more important, not less.
Members and staff discussed program details, including county veterans service officer grants, Metro Meals on Wheels funding, and a pension offset for Minnesota National Guard members called to state active duty. Nonpartisan counsel noted that grants remain subject to chapter 16B grants management requirements and pre‑award risk assessment.
The committee did not take a final passage vote; it agreed to lay the House bill over until the Senate bill arrives so the two versions can be reconciled.
