Substitute House Bill No. 6748 seeks to amend existing laws concerning the recording of military discharge characterizations for veterans, specifically allowing those with an "other-than-honorable" discharge to apply for state veterans benefits if they believe their discharge was influenced by factors such as sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The bill also enables veterans with qualifying conditions, such as PTSD or military sexual trauma, to request their discharge be recharacterized as "honorable." To facilitate this process, the bill mandates the creation of standardized application forms and procedures for both initial applications and reconsideration requests, ensuring veterans have clear guidelines for submitting their claims.

In addition to these provisions, the bill includes technical revisions, such as replacing the term "other than honorable" with "other-than-honorable" throughout relevant statutes and clarifying definitions related to veterans and eligible former reservists. The Eligibility Qualifying Review Board (EQRB) is tasked with reviewing applications within 30 days, and the veterans affairs commissioner must issue a decision within 10 days of receiving recommendations. Importantly, the bill clarifies that recording a veteran's discharge as honorable does not affect their eligibility for state benefits, thereby enhancing support for veterans who may have faced discrimination during their service.