This bill creates a new high school diploma in Minnesota specifically for veterans who did not complete high school before joining the military. It allows the state education commissioner to award a standard diploma to eligible veterans who served in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, or left high school to join active duty, provided they were honorably discharged and have a Minnesota connection (current resident, former student, or resident at time of death). The diploma is based on military service knowledge and experience, not traditional coursework. The Department of Education and Veterans Affairs will collaborate to assist veterans with applications.
HF 3540 amends Minnesota's Human Rights Act to explicitly protect veterans from discrimination. It adds "veteran or military status" to the list of protected characteristics in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The bill defines "veteran or military status" to include active/reserve military members and veterans as defined in federal law. This means employers, housing providers, and public services cannot discriminate against individuals based on their military service or veteran status. The change makes existing anti-discrimination protections apply to veterans in all covered areas of Minnesota law.
SF 4056 amends Minnesota's Human Rights Act to add "veteran or military status" as a protected class under state anti-discrimination law. This means veterans and active-duty military personnel in Minnesota are now explicitly protected from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The bill defines "veteran or military status" using the federal standard from U.S. Code Title 38. It directly affects veterans and military personnel by expanding existing protections previously not specifically included in Minnesota's law.
HF 3685 creates a new high school diploma option for Minnesota veterans who did not complete high school before joining the military. It allows the state education commissioner to award a standard diploma based on military service experience to veterans who: (1) served in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, or left school before graduation to join active duty; (2) are Minnesota residents or former residents with an honorable discharge; and (3) apply through a joint process with the Education and Veterans Affairs departments. The bill directly affects veterans who left school early for military service but have not earned a high school diploma. It establishes concrete eligibility criteria and an application pathway without altering existing diploma requirements for other students.
This bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.
This bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. It directly provides funding to connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty service members, and veterans with registered apprenticeships and career opportunities in the building and construction trades. The funds will cover program recruitment, selection, training, and employment services through a grant to Building Strong Communities. The program must operate without discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or veteran status.
This bill establishes a $10,000 relocation bonus program for veterans who were involuntarily terminated from federal jobs after January 20, 2025. To qualify, veterans must not have been Minnesota residents on that date but establish residency before January 1, 2027, and begin working at least 20 hours weekly in Minnesota before that deadline. The program, funded with $6 million from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026, requires applicants to apply through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The commissioner must report on the program’s implementation by March 1, 2027.
HF 3164 establishes a Minnesota state program providing $10,000 relocation grants to veterans who were involuntarily terminated from federal jobs on or after January 20, 2025, and establish Minnesota residency before January 1, 2027, while beginning at least 20 hours/week of work in the state before that date. The program, funded by a $6 million appropriation from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026 (including $50,000 for outreach), requires applicants to apply through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The commissioner must report on the program’s implementation to legislative committees by March 1, 2027. This policy directly supports eligible veterans transitioning to Minnesota employment and aims to strengthen the state’s workforce.
