1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; appropriating money to design and construct a memorial 
1.3 	honoring Native American United States veterans.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL.
 1.6 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
1.7 	of administration to design and construct a memorial in the Capitol complex to honor all 
1.8 	United States veterans of Native American heritage.
1.9 	(b) For purposes of this section, "Capitol complex" means the area of the Capitol mall 
1.10 	bounded by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, 12th Street West 
1.11 	to the south, John Ireland Boulevard to the west, and Cedar Street North to the east.
1.12 	(c) The commissioner of veterans affairs must convene a Native American Veterans 
1.13 	Memorial advisory task force to select the artist, materials, and design for the memorial. 
1.14 	The Native American Veterans Memorial advisory task force is comprised of 13 members, 
1.15 	including one member from each of the state's federally recognized Tribes who are veterans 
1.16 	and two at-large public members. Members of the task force may be compensated and 
1.17 	reimbursed for eligible expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
1.18 	subdivision 3. The task force expires after completion of the selection of a Native American 
1.19 	artist, materials, and design for the memorial. The commissioner of administration must 
1.20 	facilitate a request for proposal for artists for the memorial, from which the advisory task 
1.21 	force must make an artist selection. After an artist is selected, the task force should work 
1.22 	cooperatively with the artist on the selection of materials and design for the memorial. 
1.23 	Alternatively, at the task force's option, the task force may specify materials and design 
2.1 	parameters in the request for proposal from artists. The commissioner of administration 
2.2 	must provide meeting space and administrative support to the advisory task force. 
2.3 	Appointments to the task force must be made by September 1, 2025, and the commissioner 
2.4 	of administration must convene the first meeting of the task force by October 15, 2025. The 
2.5 	task force must elect a chair from among its members at its first meeting.
2.6 	(d) Before construction of the memorial, the selection of the artist, materials, and design 
2.7 	must be approved by the Indian Affairs Council.
2.8 	(e) The memorial must be constructed of materials from or components made in 
2.9 	Minnesota.
2.10 	(f) The commissioner must contract with a Native American artist to design the memorial.