Certain veterans special plates inscriptions modifications

A bill for an act

relating to transportation; amending inscriptions of certain veteran special plates;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.123, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.123, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Design.

The commissioner of veterans affairs
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shall
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must
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design the emblem

for the veterans' special plates, subject to the approval of the commissioner
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, that satisfy the

following requirements:
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and as specified in this subdivision.
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(a) For a Vietnam veteran who served after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978, in the

active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or a nation or

society allied with the United States the special plates must bear the inscription "VIETNAM

VET."

(b) For a veteran stationed on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, or offshore, during the attack

on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the special plates must bear the inscription "PEARL

HARBOR SURVIVOR."

(c) For a veteran who served during World War II, the plates must bear the inscription

"WORLD WAR VET."

(d) For a veteran who served during the Korean Conflict, the special plates must bear

the inscription "KOREAN VET."

(e) For a combat wounded veteran who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, the

plates must bear the inscription "COMBAT WOUNDED VET" and have a facsimile or an

emblem of the official Purple Heart medal.

A member of the United States armed forces who is serving actively in the military and

who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal is also eligible for this license plate. The

commissioner of public safety shall ensure that information regarding the required proof of

eligibility for any applicant under this paragraph who has not yet been issued military

discharge papers is distributed to the public officials responsible for administering this

section.

(f) For a Persian Gulf War veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "GULF WAR

VET." For the purposes of this section, "Persian Gulf War veteran" means a person who

served on active duty after August 1, 1990, in a branch of the armed forces of the United

States or a nation or society allied with the United States or the United Nations during

Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, or other military operation in the Persian

Gulf area combat zone as designated in United States Presidential Executive Order No.

12744, dated January 21, 1991.

(g) For a veteran who served in the Laos War after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978,

the special plates must bear the inscription "LAOS WAR VET."

(h) For a veteran who is the recipient of:

(1) the Iraq Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of

that medal and must bear the inscription "IRAQ WAR VET" directly below the special

plate number;

(2) the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile

of that medal and must bear the inscription "AFGHAN WAR VET" directly below the

special plate number;

(3) the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must be

inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "GWOT VETERAN"

directly below the special plate number; or

(4) the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must bear an appropriate

inscription that includes a facsimile of that medal.

(i) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,

the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the

inscription "GWOT VETERAN" directly below the special plate number. In addition, any

member of the National Guard or other military reserves who has been ordered to federally

funded state active service under United States Code, title 32, as defined in section
190.05,

subdivision 5b
, and who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, is

eligible for the license plate described in this paragraph, irrespective of whether that person

qualifies as a veteran under section
197.447
.

(j) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal, the special

plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription

"KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE" directly below the special plate number.

(k) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Bronze Star medal, the plates must bear the

inscription "BRONZE STAR
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VET
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MERITORIOUS
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"
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and
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or for a recipient of a "V" device,

the inscription "BRONZE STAR VALOR." The plates must
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have a facsimile or an emblem

of the official Bronze Star medal.

(l) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Silver Star medal, the plates must bear the

inscription "SILVER STAR
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VET
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HEROISM
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" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the

official Silver Star medal.

(m) For a woman veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "WOMAN VETERAN"

and have a facsimile or an emblem as designated by the commissioners of veterans affairs

and public safety.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective October 1, 2026, for plates issued on or

after that date.

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