# Plain Language Summary: Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act

This bill protects the educational benefits of military survivors and dependents by requiring public colleges and universities to charge them in-state tuition rates. Right now, some public schools charge out-of-state tuition to students using the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA), even though they're using federal military benefits. This bill says that's not allowed anymore—if a school wants to accept students using these military education benefits, they have to treat them like in-state students for tuition purposes.

The bill specifically targets the DEA program, which helps the spouses and children of service members who died on active duty or from service-connected disabilities. These survivors already face significant hardship, and the bill recognizes that charging them out-of-state rates creates an unfair financial burden. By requiring in-state tuition rates, the bill makes these military education benefits go further and reduces the out-of-pocket costs families have to pay. The change applies to any academic period beginning on or after August 1, 2022.

Schools that don't comply with this requirement—meaning they refuse to charge in-state tuition to DEA beneficiaries—can be disapproved by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which means they would lose the ability to accept students using these military benefits. This gives schools a strong incentive to follow the rule. The bill essentially says that if you want federal military education dollars, you need to treat military survivors fairly by giving them the same tuition rates you give to your own state's residents.

Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act

Moore, Barry

Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disapprove courses of education provided by public institutions of higher learning if such institutions charge a higher rate for tuition and fees than in-state tuition for individuals who are entitled to educational assistance under the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program.