Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to allocate funding to support veterans through the Lutheran Social Services CORE program in Minnesota. The initiative is aimed at delivering meals to veterans and assisting with enrollment outreach and volunteer recruitment.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: The bill proposes a one-time appropriation of $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This funding comes from Minnesota’s general fund and is intended for the Lutheran Social Services CORE program.

• Services Provided: The funds will be used to deliver meals to veterans living outside of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. Additional services include technical support for enrollment outreach and volunteer recruitment for member programs.

• Reporting Requirements: Lutheran Social Services CORE program must submit annual reports to the commissioner of veterans affairs and relevant legislative committees by September 1. These reports should detail how the funds were used and the number of veterans and service members assisted.

Significant Changes

This bill introduces targeted financial support for a specific veterans' program that is not confined to the more populous areas of Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, ensuring broader geographic service coverage. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting to improve transparency and accountability in the use of state funds for this purpose.

Relevant Terms

• Veterans affairs
• Appropriation
• Home-delivered meals
• Enrollment outreach
• Volunteer recruitment
• Lutheran Social Services
• CORE program
• General fund
• Reporting requirements