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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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New Mexico provides reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses for eligible resident service members and veterans, helping make outdoor recreation more affordable.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New Mexico offers Armed Forces Veteran license plates to honor honorably discharged veterans and retired Reserve component service members, with 26 optional veteran‑designation decals to personalize plates.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
New Mexico Arts creates opportunities for military, veteran families, and their communities to engage with the arts and builds nonprofit capacity to offer arts programs tailored to military-connected participants
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
New Mexico provides occupational licensing compacts and military spouse license recognition for military service members, veterans, and spouses, supporting workforce access, credential portability, and career continuity across state lines.
New Mexico recognizes military-friendly public schools that demonstrate strong supports, resources, and points of contact for military-connected students and their families.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
New Mexico offers the nation’s first no-cost universal childcare program, providing all families free access to licensed and registered childcare regardless of income, saving an average of $12,000 per child per year and strengthening family stability and workforce participation, a benefit that eases the transition into a new place for military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New Mexico offers free or discounted access to state parks and recreational facilities on Veterans Day, helping honor service members and veterans through community access.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Recognizes military family status as a protected class, reducing discrimination and supporting fair treatment for service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Housing, Housing Concerns/Insecurity
New Mexico helps military spouses, veterans, and service members access employment and training in commercial driving through the Heroes to Highways Program and CDL testing waivers, supporting faster entry into workforce opportunities.
New Mexico provides an income tax exemption for nonresident military spouses, supporting workforce participation, financial stability, and family economic security.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Active-duty service members stationed at Fort Bliss are eligible for resident-priced draw hunt licenses for hunts in New Mexico, helping military families access affordable outdoor recreation.
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
New Mexico allows dependents of active duty service members to receive in-state tuition rates even when their sponsor is stationed or resides outside the state, reducing financial barriers to higher education during military service.
Populations: Guard and Reserve Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New Mexico allows nonresident active duty service members and their dependents to qualify for in-state tuition, reducing financial barriers to higher education during military assignments.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New Mexico provides tuition scholarships to National Guard members and their families, supporting higher education, career advancement, and family stability while enhancing readiness and reintegration.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Childcare, Childcare Challenges, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
New Mexico provides income tax exclusions for qualifying military pay, helping reduce state tax burdens for service members.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Allows nonresident disabled service members and veterans in rehabilitation programs to purchase hunting licenses at resident rates, supporting recovery, recreation, and quality of life.
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
New Mexico 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
New Mexico gives military-connected students priority enrollment in public schools, helping reduce delays and support smoother school transitions during military relocations.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
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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