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State Toolkit
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Explore How States are Supporting Military Families
Across the country, states are advancing thoughtful policies, programs, and partnerships that strengthen support for military and veteran-connected families. This toolkit brings together those efforts in one shared, accessible place.
Select a state on the map to explore local initiatives, or browse the full database below to discover ideas and opportunities being activated nationwide.
Darker shaded states are a Do Your Part state.
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Minnesota offers state park vehicle permits for military personnel and their dependents.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake is open to all honorably discharged veterans for family fun with cabins, tent sites, and RV sites.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
Minnesota provides training, guidance, and resources to help educators better support military-connected students and families, improving awareness and easing school transitions during military-related moves.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Education, Educator Competency Training
Minnesota offers 24 distinctive military and veteran license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, veterans, and qualifying family members statewide.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Minnesota provides tax relief on wages earned by nonresident military spouses, supporting financial stability and workforce participation for military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota allows resident service members to subtract qualifying active-duty military pay and certain military retirement income from state taxable income, helping reduce overall state tax liability.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota offers multiple state income tax benefits for service members, including pay exclusions, retirement income subtractions, tax credits, and filing extensions, helping reduce tax burdens during and after military service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota provides tuition reimbursement through the STR program for National Guard members, supporting higher education, career advancement, and family stability while enhancing readiness and reintegration.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota provides pay and benefits to National Guard members serving on state active duty, supporting financial stability, readiness, and family well-being during service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Minnesota provides a refundable tax credit for eligible service members who served in a designated combat zone or hazardous duty area, helping offset financial strain related to deployment.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Expands the legal definition of “Armed Forces” to include the U.S. Space Force, ensuring Space Force service members are recognized in state law and eligible for the same benefits, protections, and programs as other military branches.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Minnesota offers state park vehicle permits for military personnel and their dependents, preference in special hunt drawings, and free or reduced fee fishing and game licenses.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Participates in the Military Interstate Children’s Compact (MIC3), which supports military-connected students and families by standardizing school enrollment, placement, eligibility, and graduation requirements during interstate transitions.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Minnesota allows military-connected students to access open enrollment options, helping families choose schools that meet their needs and supporting smoother school transitions during military relocations.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Military members serving outside of Minnesota do not need to renew their license until separating from the military.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Minnesota allows state employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves to take paid military leave, supporting career continuity, readiness, and family stability during service.
Active-duty military members holding a valid driver's license do not need to renew their license or ID card until they separate from military service, or may choose to renew by mail using the out of state packet.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Your Feedback is Welcome!
This toolkit is launching in 'beta' to demonstrate the incredible potential of state level work. We'll keep refining it and would love your help in making it the most comprehensive, easy to use tool out there. Help us improve the States toolkit by sharing anything that needs attention with Blue Star Families by filling out this form.
A comprehensive overview of the methodology and supporting data can be found in the full technical memo.
Let's work together to support our military families.
The Do Your Part coalition is led by Blue Star Families with support from Craig Newmark and craig newmark philanthropies.
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