The House Education Committee of the Louisiana Legislature convened on April 29, 2025, to discuss several key legislative proposals, including House Bill 54, which aims to designate post-secondary education institutions as Purple Star campuses. This designation is intended to support military families and veterans by providing a clear and recognized distinction for campuses that meet specific criteria.

Representative Horton introduced the bill, emphasizing its importance for military families transitioning to college. The bill seeks to rebrand the existing governor's military and veteran-friendly campus designation to align with a nationwide Purple Star campus program. This change aims to eliminate confusion for military families regarding campus support services.

Connor Junkin, executive counsel for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, provided additional context, noting that the rebranding would not only clarify the designation but also introduce four new requirements for campuses to achieve Purple Star status. These include appointing a military liaison, maintaining a dedicated section on the campus website for military resources, establishing a student-led transition program for military students, and offering professional development for faculty on issues unique to military students.

Committee members expressed strong support for the bill, highlighting its potential to enhance the educational experience for military families. Representative Fryberg noted the simplicity of the requirements and expressed hope that all campuses would quickly adopt the new designation, similar to a previous initiative that designated campuses as hunger-free.

The committee unanimously moved to report House Bill 54 with amendments, signaling a positive step towards supporting military families in Louisiana's higher education system. The next steps will involve further discussions and potential voting in the full House.