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SF1930 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Continued education benefits provision to surviving spouses

Related bill: HF2410

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota statutes to expand education benefits for veterans and their families. The key changes include:

  1. Eligibility for Surviving Spouses Who Remarry – The bill ensures that surviving spouses of deceased veterans remain eligible for education benefits even if they remarry. Previously, remarriage could disqualify them from receiving benefits.

  2. Definition of Deceased Veteran – The bill clarifies that a deceased veteran must have been a Minnesota resident either:

    • Within six months of entering the U.S. Armed Forces, or
    • For at least six months before their death.

  3. Expanded Coverage – The bill updates eligibility criteria for education assistance, ensuring that:

    • Children and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans remain eligible for state educational benefits if they qualify for federal benefits under U.S. Code Title 38, Chapters 33 or 35.
    • Veterans, National Guard members, and reservists meeting certain criteria can access financial assistance.

  4. Application Process & Appeals – The bill outlines requirements for proving eligibility, documentation standards, and the appeals process for denied applications, ensuring a fair and transparent system for applicants.

The overall goal of the bill is to provide continued access to education benefits for veterans and their families, particularly ensuring that remarriage does not disqualify a surviving spouse from receiving assistance.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 26, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 26, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toAgriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toAgriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies eligibility for remarried surviving spouses."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the definitions used in providing education benefits to certain surviving spouses and children under section 197.75.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts definitions related to eligible children and institutions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "197.75",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Includes surviving spouses who remarry in eligibility."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The amendment alters eligibility requirements for educational assistance for veterans and their families under section 197.791.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies compliance with child support payment requirements for eligibility."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "197.791",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill refers to section 136A.101 to define a Minnesota resident pertinent to educational assistance eligibility.",
      "modified": [
        "References the definition of a Minnesota resident for educational benefits."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "136A.101",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 8"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill uses section 136A.101, subdivision 10 to define 'satisfactory academic progress' in the context of veteran educational benefits.",
      "modified": [
        "Adopts definition of 'satisfactory academic progress' for eligibility purposes."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "136A.101",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 10"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill relies on the definition of 'veteran' as provided in section 197.447.",
      "modified": [
        "References existing definition of veteran for benefit qualification."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "197.447",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill refers to section 136A.121, subdivision 2, for compliance related to child support payments in eligibility criteria.",
      "modified": [
        "Links child support compliance to education assistance eligibility."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "136A.121",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "It includes section 135A.52 as a termination point for eligibility when a person becomes eligible for its benefits.",
      "modified": [
        "Ends education assistance eligibility upon qualifying for new benefits."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "135A.52",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "References federal education benefits that align with eligibility for Minnesota state education assistance.",
      "modified": [
        "Uses federal benefits framework for state qualification."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "United States Code title 38, chapter 33",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Mentions federal education benefits under title 38, chapter 35, as applicable to state assistance eligibility.",
      "modified": [
        "Incorporates federal criteria into state benefit eligibility."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "United States Code title 38, chapter 35",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

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