[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6342508,"mediaKeyId","2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4","parentId",2254601,"title","Committee hears bill to remove spouse/dependent burial fees at state veterans cemeteries; fiscal offset options discussed","audioSeconds",1041,"startMs",3267000,"endMs",4308000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4&start=3267&end=4308","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4/thumbnail_3267000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342508/Minnesota/Committee-hears-bill-to-remove-spousedependent-burial-fees-at-state-veterans-cemeteries-fiscal-offset-options-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342508-9d02815ba105f952c8b4bb8c4dfd0131/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864817&Signature=HYu1TcYf7J2j2WVQCN4wSqx7yfQC5qLvW48wVk3jdzN9uc3JeweiDrVKFrMvtuLvhC3UMtN8DEN0oWF6hoTMllE5Qz506Xz6P8AWZDia2NL1-uURwlnUFwO7v9kcNffyco09k6my9obueTOCsw163IJoE6qBh0ei86BYyF19cM5CcvqFSnTb9fPSJHkrKLfV7ye4XomiFQtncUid69Mf3CiWGPiUagz~sIhnLU7svR49Y~f-MrmxUGqtDBXHrSGivKwLJGHt0M0MN0gpYE8EEYNuM4RYSi0CGdTQKeoVvB2lqPKv1qY9FLvhlcd~NJlhJKQLEDJjg~FPUP7IbFVvTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Senate Media Services","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Senate File 388, carried by Senator Lisky, would eliminate fees charged to spouses and eligible dependents for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries and at Fort Snelling. The Veterans Subcommittee on Feb. 10 heard testimony from veterans, surviving spouses and Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) staff on cost, funding options and operational considerations.

Kevin Millich (retired Master Sergeant, Minnesota Air National Guard) and Jack Schlichting (spouse of a veteran) testified in support, describing the burdens spouses carry when a service member deploys and arguing that removing burial fees would recognize families’ service and reduce financial stress at the end of life. Millich said spouses shoulder many household responsibilities during deployment and that allowing spouse burials without a fee is a modest recognition of that sacrifice.

John Kelly, MDVA director of government affairs, explained how fees currently work: MDVA does not charge veterans for burial in state veteran cemeteries but does charge eligible spouses and dependents a fee that MDVA aligns with comparable federal cemetery costs. Kelly told the committee the fee had been adjusted to $978 effective March 1 and that the department plans to adjust that rate annually at the start of the federal fiscal year to capture inflationary costs. He said about half of U.S. states charge a spouse fee and that Wisconsin and South Dakota use different fee structures.

Senator Lisky and MDVA staff discussed two possible approaches to cover the lost revenue if fees were removed. One would use existing Support Our Troops license-plate funds administered by MDVA; those funds currently support a broad grants portfolio and could not be considered a perfect one‑for‑one replacement without reallocating funds. The other approach, included as an option in the bill, is a direct general-fund appropriation to offset fee revenue lost to MDVA.

MDVA staff cautioned that using the Support Our Troops fund to replace spouse-fee revenue would reduce grant funds available to other veterans organizations. With a direct appropriation from the general fund, MDVA indicated it could remove the fee without reallocating existing grant funds. Committee members asked MDVA for clarification of the fiscal note and cost drivers; MDVA said the $978 figure reflects recent inflationary adjustments and that the fiscal note estimates potential biennial impacts based on current burial volumes.

The subcommittee held Senate File 388 over for possible inclusion; no final action was taken during the hearing.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to consider appropriation offsets and fiscal impacts; senators and witnesses emphasized the policy’s purpose to reduce end-of-life financial burdens on veteran families.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans - 02/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","Senate File 388, which would remove burial fees for spouses and eligible dependents at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries, was heard Feb. 10 and held over after testimony about costs and funding offsets.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6342513,"Subcommittee hears mental‑health and outdoor‑therapy funding request for Hometown Hero Outdoors",1179,2108000,3287000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4&start=2108&end=3287","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4/thumbnail_2108000.jpg","/articles/6342513/Minnesota/Subcommittee-hears-mentalhealth-and-outdoortherapy-funding-request-for-Hometown-Hero-Outdoors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342513-437e9654d1ec565807e1851243804559/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864817&Signature=mLi1pmTusSNjN8UseFH7Djg2Qu46WDakX0~AoFsjSxvz8W6xKI7sXMUNXL2cMIVAIFhv-fYQfMZr8Ra6XpkFkUownUBCN3ia-lRluKZ21mMldbjwq01hMITGd9LbtfnDQhn6Kul4uoEdzPo6~DuWDyz0oajds-1gaEn31ZwdScqQt9HOTDFPSt1IUsP0YXBt89qaZFwHd0IoAvhUdTgyR73QrFh4hJBcnHN4HfdXYXnpX2DTCfmCLwvkLsblCrSq6Eq-SzmxupCzhRuxwk~bQWBkJ2Q4OqZkIKBydNT34yv9zjnYgtjeYxl0YzDqI0zaAMSKvFduqNp2JQQUq-5Ezg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Veterans Subcommittee on Feb. 10 received testimony on Senate File 674, a funding request for Hometown Hero Outdoors (HHO), a nonprofit that runs outdoor recreation trips intended to improve mental health among service members, veterans and first responders.

Senator Seaburger presented the bill and said Hometown Hero Outdoors has served thousands since 2017. Christopher Tetrault, HHO president and co-founder, told the committee HHO has expanded into 26 states and that 85% of its participants are current service members or veterans. He said pre‑ and post‑trip survey data the organization collects show reported improvements in mental health (74.1% reporting excellent mental health post-trip, a 38.8% increase from pre-trip) and high rates of continued outdoor activity.

Tetrault described program components and planned uses for state funds: roughly 50% for outdoor adventures, 30% for additional mental-health training and to engage mental‑health professionals, 10% for outreach and growth (including application/website work), and 10% for administrative needs (insurance, accounting). He emphasized that volunteers deliver most services and that the organization uses screening and pre/post surveys to measure outcomes.

Multiple speakers described individual outcomes and the organization’s peer-support network. Jason Keane, a member of HHO and an Iraq veteran, recounted receiving help from HHO contacts after a severe illness and said the organization connected him to services during a crisis. Chaplain Matthew Dietner, currently serving in the Army Reserve, described long-term peer contacts from trips that continued to provide mutual support during family and personal crises.

Senators questioned program scope and partnership choices; testifiers named partnerships with an equine-therapy provider (Bison on the Backside) and a suicidologist (Wellness That Fits). Tetrault said HHO also trains volunteers in applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST) so staff can provide crisis stabilization and referrals. He told the committee HHO operates primarily on volunteer time and that per-person costs are about $100.

The subcommittee held Senate File 674 over for possible inclusion; no appropriation vote occurred at the hearing.

Ending: The committee recorded supportive testimony, noted partnerships and outcomes data provided by HHO, and will consider the bill in future deliberations.","Senate File 674 would appropriate funds to Hometown Hero Outdoors to expand outdoor-recreation programming, mental-health training and outreach. Witnesses described peer-based, outdoor interventions and surveys showing self-reported mental-health improvements; the subcommittee held the bill over for possible inclusion.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6342518,"Minnesota senators hear requests to expand and upgrade Veterans on the Lake facilities, hold bills over",1185,119000,1304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4&start=119&end=1304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2254601-83acf958ecb272688ef7381626a31ea4/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6342518/Minnesota/Minnesota-senators-hear-requests-to-expand-and-upgrade-Veterans-on-the-Lake-facilities-hold-bills-over","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342518-1e286d6deae0ae04a57ea1d6f3af4b13/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864817&Signature=M1MO6XZj9H9nUgDXWIgoQvVc9wdH0n4jE-5srnIi9JgBTfGTu0Aw4wxhBEr0W~WuRK-uZLC7ymko6dodx838iQYiX1jgZNq1h3iYLSSdNcWP4gG7BKLY5gwp-thtDeLPtPdzlYvIJrL1n3F7JAE~a~kI1Y8XwFvge~FGkBosDDowqYi5IozDzpno95szcBOJ0Y0-hrAZ00ulaJuDFvQjcvmgp3-nSSEDgR2uRCiCCF2gBeOzsI1hKoPQUajOhTAiLyo8CtFKrb~CSsdt3IA8Fqf6Vkw5g2Jvtag0yeZLKUtq96mCFV1X-cwabE8vZT2SN8~XU0VKceWDthVegNyIWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans on Feb. 10 heard testimony on two bills seeking additional state funding for Veterans on the Lake, a therapeutic outdoor resort in Ely that serves disabled and other veterans from across Minnesota.

Senate File 586 would provide a $100,000 appropriation to expand a grant program that brings disabled veterans to Veterans on the Lake for outdoor retreats. Senate File 613 would provide a one-time appropriation to replace an aging septic system at the resort; the facility estimates the upgrade at about $189,000 and requested $200,000 to cover contingencies.

Supporters told the committee the programs provide access to wilderness-based camaraderie and mental-health benefits. Senator Hochschild (presenting the Veterans on the Lake bills) said the resort “is designed to honor those who have contributed and sacrificed for our nation and help them heal.” Andy Berkenpaz, general manager of Veterans on the Lake Resort, told the committee the site operates year-round with specialized amenities for disabled visitors and reported it served 4,595 people last year; of those, Berkenpaz said 71% were disabled veterans and veteran occupancy was 88%.

Berkenpaz said the program has received $50,000 annually since 2021. He told senators that in the 2023–24 grant cycle the resort spent $18,125, served 25 veterans and returned $31,875 to the Department of Veterans Affairs because of a fiscal-year timing mismatch; in the 2024–25 season to date he said $37,700 had been spent and 52 veterans served, with more stays scheduled. He estimated each $50,000 appropriation serves approximately 68.9 veterans and asked the committee to consider switching the grant cycle to a calendar year to match bookings.

Board members and volunteers also described the septic upgrade as necessary to meet current Lake County permitting standards. Eric Marinon, chairman of the Veterans on the Lake board, and other board members said the existing system is a gravity rock-trench system dating from the resort’s earlier era and that soil and drainage conditions raised contractor estimates to roughly $189,000. Marinon and others said completing the septic work is required before the county will allow full occupancy of the facility.

Valerie Rasmussen, president and founder of Vets R Us, described bringing groups of mostly disabled veterans from west-central Minnesota to Ely for ice-fishing retreats and recounted that participants share information and informal peer support that can be life‑saving. “Without retreats like this…that’s not possible,” Rasmussen said, adding that the program had helped a participant avoid suicide in 2023.

Committee members asked about timing for construction and the best funding sources. Senators noted other grant streams (for example, legacy and LCCMR funds) but staff advised those streams are typically focused on capital or cultural projects and may not fit an operating or septic-repair request. Berkenpaz said his contractor is ready to install the new septic as soon as frost is out of the ground and that Lake County will not permit full occupancy until the system is replaced, creating scheduling pressure.

The subcommittee held both Senate File 586 and Senate File 613 over for possible inclusion; no formal vote on either appropriation occurred during the hearing.

Ending: The committee recorded the requests and took no final action; both bills were held over for possible inclusion. If either appropriation moves forward, supporters said it would be used to preserve capacity to serve disabled veterans statewide and to keep the resort in compliance with county health and permitting requirements.","The Senate Veterans Subcommittee heard two related bills to fund Veterans on the Lake: a $100,000 grant program appropriation and a one-time request to replace an aging septic system. Lawmakers held both bills over for possible inclusion after testimony from resort managers, board members and veteran advocates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to remove spouse/dependent burial fees at state veterans cemeteries; fiscal offset options discussed

Subcommittee hears mental‑health and outdoor‑therapy funding request for Hometown Hero Outdoors

Minnesota senators hear requests to expand and upgrade Veterans on the Lake facilities, hold bills over