House division OK’s Purple Heart driver’s license designation

Minnesotans who have earned a Purple Heart might be able to show their recognition every time they display their driver’s license or state identification card.

Rep. Jerry Newton

Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Newton (DFL-Coon Rapids), HF243 would add an optional Purple Heart designation license to those documents and would also permit free daily or annual access to state parks and trails to holders of a driver’s license or state identification card with the Purple Heart designation.

“We already have special designation on driver’s licenses for veterans, seniors, for 100 percent disabled veterans and multiple others,” Newton said. “This will just be added when they renew their license.”

Approved as amended Monday by the House Veterans Affairs Division, the bill was sent to the House Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee. A companion, SF345, sponsored by Sen. Alice Johnson (DFL-Blaine), awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, “The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.”