This bill seeks to enhance the authority of the adjutant general in Minnesota, particularly regarding military facilities and veterans' affairs. Key provisions include granting the adjutant general the power to act as the contracting authority for construction and maintenance projects, as well as establishing a referral bonus program for enlistment in the Minnesota National Guard. The bill also allows the adjutant general to access confidential data related to military justice without a court order and clarifies the rental process for armories, enabling the adjutant general to set rental terms and manage proceeds for maintenance. Additionally, it addresses the transfer of military members to civil authorities for criminal offenses, ensuring the concurrent operation of military justice and civil law.

Moreover, the bill amends statutes concerning the sale and conveyance of military property, allowing the adjutant general to sell property to municipalities for military training and to exchange property with the Land Exchange Board's approval. It expands eligibility for free certified copies of vital records to county veteran service officers and establishes a central pharmacy for veterans home residents. The bill also appropriates funds for various veteran support initiatives, including $225,000 for the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum and $4,311,000 for a Veteran Homelessness Initiative. It sets a base appropriation for veterans' homes and emphasizes maximizing federal reimbursements for Medicare-eligible expenses, with the new legal language indicating that these provisions will take effect the day after final enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 192.501
1st Engrossment: 13.02, 13.785, 190.16, 192.25, 192.501, 192.67, 609.396
2nd Engrossment: 13.02, 13.785, 190.16, 192.25, 192.501, 192.67, 193.143, 193.29, 193.36, 197.63, 198.005, 198.006, 375.34, 375.35, 609.396
1st Unofficial Engrossment: 13.02, 13.785, 190.16, 192.25, 192.501, 192.67, 193.143, 193.29, 193.36, 197.63, 198.005, 198.006, 375.34, 375.35, 609.396