HB4729 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17634 LNS 31065 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4729

Introduced , by Rep. Gregg Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Veterans' Dependents and Spouses College Tuition Waiver Act. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution of higher education if the applicant is a spouse or dependent of an eligible veteran, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the public institution of higher education, and meets residency and enrollment requirements established by rule. Provides that the waiver applies only to tuition and mandatory fees and does not include room, board, books, supplies, or other nonmandatory expenses. Sets forth the length of the waiver. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall administer the waivers created by the Act. Provides that the Act's benefits shall be applied after federal educational benefits have been applied, unless otherwise provided by rule. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an applicant from receiving federal educational benefits, as long as there is no duplication of State-funded tuition assistance. Allows the Commission to adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Dependents and Spouses College Tuition Waiver Act.

Section 5. Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) veterans and their families have made extraordinary sacrifices in service to this State and the United States;

(2) while this State provides tuition assistance programs for veterans themselves, educational barriers remain for the spouses and dependents of veterans, particularly those affected by service-connected disability or death; and

(3) access to affordable postsecondary education for veterans' families strengthens this State's workforce, economy, and communities.

(b) The purpose of this Act is to expand access to public higher education by waiving tuition and mandatory fees for eligible spouses and dependents of State veterans at public institutions of higher education.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Dependent" means a child of an eligible veteran, including a biological child, adopted child, or stepchild who is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes or otherwise meets eligibility requirements established by rule.

"Eligible veteran" means a person who:

(1) served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States;

(2) received an honorable discharge; and

(3) is or was, at the time of death, a resident of this State as defined under rules adopted by the Commission. "Eligible veteran" includes:

(A) a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 30% or greater by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(B) a veteran who was killed in the line of duty;

(C) a veteran who died as a result of a service-connected disability; or

(D) a veteran who is missing in action or classified as a prisoner of war.

"Public institution of higher education" means a public community college or public university in this State.

"Spouse" means a person legally married to an eligible veteran.

"Tuition and mandatory fees" means charges assessed by a public institution of higher education for enrollment, instruction, and institution-wide fees required of all students, excluding room, board, books, supplies, and transportation.

Section 15. Eligibility for and award of waiver.

(a) An applicant is eligible for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution of higher education under this Act if the applicant:

(1) is a spouse or dependent of an eligible veteran;

(2) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the public institution of higher education; and

(3) meets residency and enrollment requirements established by rule.

(b) The Commission shall award waivers to eligible applicants, and a public institution of higher education shall waive tuition and mandatory fees for the recipient of a particular waiver.

Section 20. Scope of benefit.

(a) A waiver awarded under this Act:

(1) applies only to tuition and mandatory fees; and

(2) does not include room, board, books, supplies, or other nonmandatory expenses.

(b) The waiver is available for:

(1) up to the equivalent of 4 academic years of full-time enrollment; or

(2) an equivalent amount of credit hours, as determined by rule.

(c) The waiver may be used only for undergraduate coursework, unless otherwise authorized by the General Assembly.

Section 25. Administration.

(a) The Commission shall administer the waivers created by this Act.

(b) The Commission shall:

(1) establish application procedures and verification requirements;

(2) adopt rules to coordinate the waivers with other State and federal educational benefits;

(3) ensure that recipients do not receive duplicative State tuition benefits for the same academic term; and

(4) notify a public institution of higher education that tuition and mandatory fees must be waived for the recipient of a particular waiver.

Section 30. Coordination with other benefits.

(a) The benefits under this Act shall be applied after federal educational benefits have been applied, unless otherwise provided by rule.

(b) Nothing in this Act prohibits an applicant from receiving federal educational benefits, including benefits under federal veterans educational-assistance laws, as long as there is no duplication of State-funded tuition assistance.

Section 90. Rulemaking. The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.