HF 3685

01/16/26   REVISOR  CR/EN  26-06518
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.   3685
02/25/2026     Authored by Olson, Repinski and Virnig
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy
04/09/2026     By motion, recalled and re-referred to the Veterans and Military Affairs Division
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to education; establishing a high school diploma for armed forces veterans;
1.3proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 127A.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5Section 1. [127A.135] HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR VETERANS.
1.6Subdivision 1. Establishment. The commissioner must establish a high school diploma
1.7for veterans and award a standard high school diploma to a qualifying veteran of the armed
1.8forces who has not completed high school graduation requirements. The high school diploma
1.9may be awarded to an armed forces veteran based on knowledge and experience gained
1.10while in service.
1.11Subd. 2. Qualifying service; application. (a) The commissioner may award a high
1.12school diploma to an eligible veteran under subdivision 3 who has not completed high school
1.13graduation requirements and who meets at least one of the following qualifying service
1.14criteria:
1.15(1) served in the Korean Conflict;
1.16(2) served in the Vietnam War; or
1.17(3) left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation to serve on
1.18active duty in the United States armed forces.
1.19(b) A veteran, or a veteran's family posthumously, may apply for the veteran high school
1.20diploma in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner of education. The
1.21Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs must work together to assist veterans with
1.22the application process for obtaining a diploma.
Section 1.  1
      01/16/26   REVISOR  CR/EN  26-06518
2.1     Subd. 3. Eligible veteran. For purposes of this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran
2.2 who:
2.3     (1) either: (i) is a current resident of the state of Minnesota; (ii) was previously enrolled
2.4 in a high school in this state; or (iii) was a resident of the state of Minnesota at the time of
2.5 death; and
2.6     (2) was honorably discharged from the United States armed forces as verified by the
2.7 Department of Veterans Affairs.
      Section 1.  2