Senate committee advances package of veterans bills including recognition for Hmong and Lao SGU veterans

The Minnesota Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development Committee advanced a series of veterans measures on March 11, recommending several bills to pass and be referred to the next stage of consideration.

Senate File 4075, introduced to acknowledge service and sacrifice of Hmong and Lao Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during the secret war in Laos, was amended to add a placeholder appropriations section and then recommended to pass and be referred to the Committee on Transportation. Senator Pah, the bill’s author, said the measure stems from recommendations of the SGU Veterans and Irregular Forces Task Force he chaired and asked the committee to move quickly because the subcommittee had already passed it unanimously. Counsel Erickson explained the A4 amendment inserts blank appropriations for the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and the Commissioner of Public Safety to be filled later by the Finance Committee. The committee adopted the A4 amendment by voice vote and then passed the bill.

Two SGU veterans provided testimony in support. Yi Zhang recounted flying “more than a 1,000 combat mission[s],” describing long‑term injuries and post‑traumatic stress and urging “fairness” and equal recognition rather than “handouts.” Sa Vang, a former lieutenant, said “more than 20 of our Minnesota veterans have already died” since the bill process began and asked members to approve a limited veterans benefit so veterans can die with dignity and recognized service.

Separately, the committee moved Senate File 3957 to modernize statutory references and consolidate veterans’ higher education benefits under Minnesota Statutes chapter 197; John Kelly, director of government affairs for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), offered to answer questions and indicated departmental support. The committee recommended SF3957 to pass and be referred to the floor.

Senate File 3956 would amend Minn. Stat. §196.22 to authorize the MDVA commissioner to direct agency staff and nonmonetary resources (for example, staff time and data assistance) to veteran initiatives including food security, homelessness and suicide prevention. John Kelly told the committee the language is permissive and case‑by‑case; the example cited was work with Disabled American Veterans on food insecurity. The committee recommended the measure to pass and be referred to the floor.

Senate File 3955 creates a narrow emergency exception authorizing the MDVA commissioner to temporarily close a veterans’ home if required by federal authorities while preserving resident protections and legislative notification requirements. The committee adopted subcommittee changes adding the word “temporary” to clarify the change is not permanent and recommended the bill to pass and be referred to the floor.

Senate File 4072 updates MDVA’s organizational structure, including reclassifying the chief of staff as deputy commissioner of administration while preserving the requirement that the position be held by a Minnesota veteran. Kelly said the bill also aligns state law with federal rules that could forfeit state benefits if a veteran is convicted under certain federal provisions; the committee recommended the bill to pass.

Finally, Senate File 4056 would add veterans as a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act to address housing, education, employment and other discrimination. Senator Cooney and John Kelly said the department supports extending protections. The committee recommended the bill to pass and referred it to the Judiciary Committee.

All measures described above were advanced by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the transcript. Where members asked procedural or policy clarifying questions, staff and MDVA representatives provided answers and emphasized bipartisan work in subcommittees or stakeholder engagement.

Next steps: the measures recommended to pass will proceed to the Senate floor or the committee identified at referral for further consideration. The committee recorded emotional testimony from SGU veterans urging recognition as a primary reason the members expedited consideration.