Bill renames governor's military-friendly campus designation to Purple Star campus

The House Education Committee on Monday reported House Bill 54 favorably, a bill that redesignates the governor's "military and veteran friendly campus" label as a "Purple Star campus" and adds modest requirements for institutions that seek the distinction.

Representative Horton carried the bill for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Connor Junkin, executive counsel for the department, told the committee the change aligns Louisiana terminology with a national Purple Star campus program and mostly consolidates existing practice. "This is because there is a nationwide program known as the purple star campus, which is what we are moving towards," Junkin said. He said the bill adds primarily low-cost requirements such as designating a military liaison, maintaining a veterans resources page on the school website, offering a student-led transition program and providing professional development about military students' issues.

Representative Freiberg observed that the Board of Regents's report indicates all 28 public campuses and one private campus in Alexandria already hold the governor's designation; Junkin said several institutions, including LSUS, LSU A and Bossier Parish Community College, already have many of the listed practices in place.

Committee members expressed broad support and moved the bill forward without recorded opposition. Representative Freyberg moved to report the bill favorably; with no objections the committee reported HB 54 to the full House.

If enacted, the bill would change the statutory name and require participating campuses to maintain low-cost, outreach-focused practices meant to help military-connected students find resources and transition to campus life.