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Subcommittee advances package: grants oversight, diplomas for wartime veterans, and formal recognition of Commander's Task Force

Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans · April 9, 2026

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Summary

The subcommittee moved several veterans-related bills—SF4026 on MDVA grants review, SF3603 to allow wartime veterans to receive high-school diplomas from Minnesota school districts, and SF4560 formalizing the Minnesota Commander's Task Force—and recommended each to the full committee or laid them over for omnibus inclusion.

The Minnesota Senate subcommittee on veterans advanced a package of bills on Wednesday that address grants oversight, veteran recognition, and organization formalization.

Senate File 4026 would create a framework for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to review competitive grants and align residency requirements; the panel adopted an A1 amendment and laid the bill over for inclusion in the veterans omnibus vehicle. Dave Belfie, MDVA chief of staff, said the bill reflects agency input and will not change administration of existing Support Our Troops grants.

Senate File 3603, presented by Senator Dan Rasmussen, would authorize Minnesota school districts to award high-school diplomas to veterans who left school to serve during wartime (Korean and Vietnam era were discussed in testimony). John Kelly, MDVA director of government affairs, said the bill codifies a practice used by districts and that MDVA will assist districts verifying discharge paperwork. The committee recommended SF3603 to the full committee.

Senate File 4560 would formalize the Minnesota Commander's Task Force (CTF), the coalition of leaders from the state’s congressionally chartered veterans service organizations. Testimony from VSO leaders—John Walker (Disabled American Veterans), Linda Dvorak (American Legion), Barry Hendrickson (VFW), Trent Dilkes (DAV legislative director)—and MDVA staff described the CTF’s advisory role to the commissioner, the governor and lawmakers and asked for statutory recognition. Members asked about membership rules and inclusion of Native American veterans organizations; witnesses said discussions are underway and the group would welcome an authorized Native American veterans organization as it is established. The committee recommended SF4560 to the full committee.

Each of these measures was either laid over for omnibus inclusion or recommended to the full committee during the hearing.