HB 587 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Education - High School Diploma - Veterans of Armed Conflicts

HB 587 allows veterans honorably discharged after withdrawing from high school to earn a high school diploma if they enlisted during specific military conflicts. It updates Maryland law to cover veterans who left accredited public or private high school to serve in any armed conflict authorized by the U.S. President or Congress (replacing the previous list of specific conflicts like WWII, Korea, and Vietnam). To qualify, veterans must apply to their county school board, which will establish procedures for awarding diplomas. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans who left school early for military service.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Education - High School Diploma - Veterans of Armed Conflicts → Third - Education - High School Diploma - Veterans of Armed Conflicts · 4 edits

MODERATE

HB 587 was amended to expand eligibility for high school diploma equivalency to include veterans who served in the Vietnam Conflict, Gulf War, Afghan Conflict, and Iraq War, in addition to existing conflicts. The bill also includes formatting changes and adds signature lines for approval.

Scope change

Expanded eligibility to include veterans from four additional conflicts (Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghan, and Iraq) beyond the original list of World War II and Korean Conflict.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for veterans who enlisted during the Vietnam Conflict, Gulf War, Afghan Conflict, and Iraq War.

Revised language to include 'certain wars or conflicts' alongside specific named conflicts.

TECHNICAL

Added signature lines for Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.

Changed title from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' to reflect legislative formatting conventions.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

136–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 139

Mar 5, 2025

D Democratic100

97 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

39 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 5, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (136-0-3)

house of delegates

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors