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HF3685 • 2026

High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Olson, Repinski, Virnig
Last action
2026-05-04
Official status
Author added Virnig
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

What This Bill Does

  • High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-04 House

    Author added Virnig

  2. 2026-04-16 House

    Author added Repinski

  3. 2026-04-09 House

    Motion to recall and re-refer, motion prevailed Veterans and Military Affairs Division

  4. 2026-02-25 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy

Official Summary Text

High school diploma established for armed forces veterans.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A bill for an act

relating to education; establishing a high school diploma for armed forces veterans;

proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 127A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[127A.135] HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR VETERANS.

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Subdivision 1.

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Establishment.

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The commissioner must establish a high school diploma

for veterans and award a standard high school diploma to a qualifying veteran of the armed

forces who has not completed high school graduation requirements. The high school diploma

may be awarded to an armed forces veteran based on knowledge and experience gained

while in service.

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Subd. 2.

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Qualifying service; application.

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(a) The commissioner may award a high

school diploma to an eligible veteran under subdivision 3 who has not completed high school

graduation requirements and who meets at least one of the following qualifying service

criteria:

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(1) served in the Korean Conflict;

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(2) served in the Vietnam War; or

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(3) left a public or nonpublic school located in any state prior to graduation to serve on

active duty in the United States armed forces.

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(b) A veteran, or a veteran's family posthumously, may apply for the veteran high school

diploma in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner of education. The

Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs must work together to assist veterans with

the application process for obtaining a diploma.

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Subd. 3.

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Eligible veteran.

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For purposes of this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran

who:

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(1) either: (i) is a current resident of the state of Minnesota; (ii) was previously enrolled

in a high school in this state; or (iii) was a resident of the state of Minnesota at the time of

death; and

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(2) was honorably discharged from the United States armed forces as verified by the

Department of Veterans Affairs.

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