ST. PAUL 鈥� Gov. Tim Walz and lawmakers at the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon assured a crowd of hundreds that veterans will remain a priority as lawmakers continue budget negotiations.
A Wednesday, April 9 rally 鈥� hosted by the Commanders' Task Force and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers 鈥� featured speakers urging relief for veteran homelessness and food insecurity, mental health support, property tax reform and fraud protection. Speakers, including Walz, condemned any cuts to veteran-related funding in the state.
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Earlier Wednesday morning, the House Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs passed , which would appropriate roughly $289 million in the 2026-27 state budget for veterans affairs.
Trent Dilks, legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said on Wednesday that HF2444, the committee鈥檚 omnibus budget bill, would cut $10 million from existing appropriations targeting veteran homelessness.
鈥淲e understand that this is a tight budget year,鈥� Dilks said at the rally. 鈥淲e also understand the fiscal restraints put on the state, but we also understand that underfunding veterans services and health care and taking care of our veterans is not an option.鈥�
Walz took the stage on Wednesday with a similar tone, condemning the House鈥檚 veterans affairs budget targets. The House proposed a $10 million increase for general fund spending in veterans affairs in 2026-27. The Senate proposed a $95 million increase and Walz pitched a $92 million increase.
鈥淲e're going to have a debate, but I've made it clear, I will compromise with you on the budget, I will not compromise in the space of the veteran's issues,鈥� Walz told the crowd. "We are going to fund them to where they need to be."
Rep. Bjorn Olson, R-Fairmont, apologized to the crowd over the proposed cuts from his chamber.
鈥淭hese budget cuts that we've had to make are considerable, and they fall upon those who are struggling the worst 鈥� For that, I personally apologize to you for this,鈥� Olson said at the rally.
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Olson said he hopes that the House's budget targets can be adjusted during negotiations with the Senate.
Some rally attendees sported signs reading "Claim sharks," in reference to , authored by Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis. The bill targets fraudsters, known as 鈥渃laim sharks,鈥� who illegally charge fees to veterans seeking to access their federal, state or county benefits. HF1855 is still in committee and did not make it into HF2444, the committee's omnibus bill, as of Friday.
Veteran advocates on Wednesday also voiced support for , sponsored by Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine. The bill would modify property tax exclusions and provide additional tax relief for veterans with disabilities, their caregivers and surviving spouses, with the exclusion amount adjusting with inflation.
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