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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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Rhode Island offers eight distinctive military and veteran license plates to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, veterans, retired service members, and qualifying family members statewide.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
Rhode Island provides emergency financial assistance through the Military Family Relief Fund to eligible service members, veterans, and military families facing hardship.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Rhode Island’s H‑5593/S‑0241A prohibits housing discrimination based on military or familial status, banning questions about military status in rental or home purchase processes and protecting military families’ housing rights.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Mobility & Relocation, Relocation/PCS Issues
Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island provides military family leave protections for military service members, veterans, and spouses, supporting job protection, work-life balance, and family stability.
Rhode Island allows service members, veterans, and their dependents to qualify for in-state tuition, reducing financial barriers to higher education during and after military-related relocations.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Rhode Island provides a state income tax exemption for nonresident service members and their spouses, supporting workforce participation, financial stability, and family economic security.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Rhode Island Commercial Driver License (CDL) Military Skills Test Waiver form can be used by military members who are current and were required to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle in their military position in the past year to aooky for a CDL without skill testing.
Rhode Island provides tuition assistance through STAP to National Guard members and their families, 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
Rhode Island provides differential pay to state employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves during military duty, supporting financial stability, readiness, and family well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Housing, Housing Concerns/Insecurity
Rhode Island provides free tuition to surviving spouses and children of National Guard members who died in service, supporting educational access, family stability, and well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Rhode Island Hunting and Fishing Benefits
Provides hunting and fishing benefits, supporting outdoor recreation, wellness, and quality of life for service members, veterans, and military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health 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
Military members who are legal residents of Rhode Island and are the holder of a valid RI driver's license may apply for a special operator's license. Licenses may also be renewed online.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Legal/Justice System Navigation, Resource Systems Navigation
Rhode Island allows state employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves to take military leave, supporting career continuity, readiness, and family stability during service.
Rhode Island law allows military families to renew driver’s licenses and vehicle registration online, by mail, or in person, improving convenience and access for service members and their dependents.
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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