Two bills heard on veterans’ dependent tuition waivers; sponsors and higher‑ed groups differ on ‘first dollar’ approach

The House Higher Education Committee on March 25 held a public hearing on two related bills that would expand or update tuition waivers for dependents of disabled or deceased service members and Purple Heart recipients.

House Bill 3534: Representative Boomer Wright said HB 3534 would amend ORS 350.285 to expand education benefits for children of service members who are disabled or killed in the line of duty. The measure, as summarized to the committee, would reduce the disability requirement from 100% to 80% disabled, expand the waiver to community colleges and registered apprenticeship programs, and require institutions to waive fees and the cost of textbooks in addition to tuition. The summary also said the waiver amount would not be reduced by certain student aid awards. Representative Wright discussed proposed amendments to allow waivers for master’s degrees and indicated drafts were under consideration that would raise the age limit for qualifying dependents; testimony referenced an L.C. amendment to raise the age to 31.

Repr…