2020 Legislative Priorities 1. Lifetime Homestead Market Value Exclusion for Surviving Spouses – Make the existing homestead market value exclusion for surviving spouses of a deceased Veteran permanent. Currently, the exclusion expires 8 years after the death of the Veteran. This change would allow the surviving spouses to receive the exclusion until they remarry, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of the property. 2. Military Beneficiary’s Pay or Benefits Protections – Legislation to prohibit a party from entering or attempting to enter into an agreement with a military beneficiary that assigns the beneficiary’s pay or other benefits to another party in a manner that violates federal law. 3. Support MDVA’S request for Asset Preservation funding – Support the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs’ request for funding to address critical repair projects at the 5 Minnesota State Veterans Homes and Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries. 4. Free or Reduced Cost Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses for Service-Connected Disabled Veterans – CTF supports a reduction in the threshold level of disability rating from the current 100% for Veterans to be eligible for free or discounted deer hunting, trapping, small game and lifetime fishing licenses. 5. Expansion of Veterans Courts Statewide – Provide for the creation/expansion of Veterans Courts (or related treatment and diversion programming) to all district courts in the state of Minnesota CURRENT HOT TOPICS The ‘Blue Water’ bill: The VA is urging the Senate to stop this Bill. We need all of our members to write there Senators and tell them they need to pass this Bill and it needs to be passed NOW. https://www.stripes.com/va-rips-blue-water-agent-orange-bill-urges-senate-to-sink-it-1.540645 If you want to stay in the loop on what is going on with VFW’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill sign up for the VFW Action Corp weekly newsletter. Use this link to sign up to receive the Action Corps Weekly: Click Here The VFW Action Corps Weekly, an easy-to-read electronic newsletter that highlights the VFW’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. Immediate access to a nationwide database of contact information for all elected officials, a congressional directory. Regular VFW "Action Alerts” on how to get involved when our nation’s veterans, service members and their families need their voices heard on Capitol Hill. To view this week’s edition: Click here