These New Minnesota Laws Were Just Signed By Gov. Walz

ST. PAUL, MN — Gov. Tim Walz signed five new bills into law Friday, covering everything from fraud oversight and veterans benefits to home care services, virtual currency, and a new memorial highway in White Bear Lake.

The bills create a new Office of Inspector General, expand certain home care services, allow some banks to offer virtual-currency custody services and make several changes affecting Minnesota veterans and service members.

Here is what Walz signed:

Office Of Inspector General

SF 856 creates the Office of Inspector General, requires reporting and appropriates funding.

The office is meant to strengthen oversight and accountability in state government.

Veterans And Military Affairs

HF 3522, the omnibus veterans and military affairs bill, raises the minimum pay for active duty Minnesota National Guard members by tying their pay rate to the federal base pay rate for an E-5, or sergeant.

The bill also adds anti-fraud protections intended to ensure grant money approved for Minnesota veterans, active duty service members and their families goes to the intended recipients.

The veterans bill also:

Allows the commissioner of veterans affairs to close a veterans home if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issues an involuntary termination notice.

Implements recommendations from the Special Guerilla Units Task Force.

Clarifies eligibility standards, protocols and benefits for veterans of the Secret War in Laos.

Creates a Special Guerilla Units veteran designation for Minnesota driver’s licenses and ID cards.

Allows eligible honorably discharged Minnesota National Guard members and their immediate families to be buried in State Veterans Cemeteries.

Permanently establishes the Commanders Task Force in state law.

Virtual Currency

HF 3709 allows certain virtual-currency custody services to be offered and performed by banking institutions.

Human Services And Home Care

SF 476, the omnibus human services bill, expands certain medical assistance services to include coverage of care evaluations.

The bill also changes rates for homemaker services, home health agency services and home care nursing services, and requires reporting.

Memorial Highway

HF 4987 designates a portion of Ramsey County State-Aid Highway 96 in White Bear Lake as the "Master Sergeant Nicole Amor Memorial Highway."