Minnesota panel advances bill to add veteran or military status to state nondiscrimination law

Representative Bliss introduced House File 35 40 on Feb. 25, saying the measure would add veteran or military status to Minnesota’s nondiscrimination protections after constituents reported employment and housing denials tied to veteran status.

John Kelly, director of government affairs for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, told the committee the department supports the bill and noted that several other states have already included veteran or military status in state nondiscrimination statutes. "Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of house file, 35 40," Kelly said.

Nicholas Slade, deputy general counsel for the Department of Military Affairs, asked the committee to consider education protections for National Guard members who serve on state active duty or attend annual training. Slade described cases where guard members in multi-term certificate programs missed classes and were forced to withdraw; he said the committee could adopt an "undue hardship" standard similar to federal practice to require institutions to provide reasonable accommodations where doing so would not impose undue hardship on the school.

Co-chair Zhang moved an amendment to explicitly include veterans of the secret war in Laos; Chair Bliss called the change friendly and the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. After discussion of the bill’s history and state practice, Chair Bliss renewed his motion and the committee voice-voted to re-refer HF 35 40, as amended, to the judiciary committee for further consideration.

The bill’s author said the change is intended to correct an oversight in state law and better protect veterans from discrimination in employment, housing and education.