Senate panel hears bill to waive college tuition for surviving spouses and children of first responders killed in the line of duty

Senate Bill 237, presented to the Senate Committee on Education in Carson City with remote testimony from Las Vegas and callers, would amend Nevada Revised Statutes to prohibit the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada from assessing tuition charges for surviving spouses and children of first responders who were killed while acting in the normal course of duty.

Julie Lynn, a Nevada Youth Legislator who opened the presentation, described the bill as "about honoring sacrifice" and said it would "ensure that the spouses and children of the first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty in Nevada can attend institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education." Senator Rochelle Winn, appearing in committee discussion and identified as the sponsor, and witnesses described factual examples. Lynn cited the 2022 death of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Trung Tai and said the officer’s 19‑year‑old daughter faced pursuing higher education without her father’s financial support.

The proposed change would add surviving spouses and children of first responders (as defined in NRS 193.1678) to a tuition exemption already present in state law for certain groups. Legal counsel told the committee that under the bill’s current wording the exemption would apply only to first responders "killed while acting in the normal course of duty," and that off‑duty or other cases might not be covered without tailored language.

Multiple law enforcement associations and individual officers testified in support. John Abel of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association described the measure as a promise to families of officers who make the ultimate sacrifice; other unions, sheriffs’ deputies and Metro representatives expressed unanimous support. Surviving spouses and family members gave emotional testimony: Minddie Loyd, widow of an LVMPD lieutenant, and Jennifer Jones Closi, president of Southern Nevada Concerns of Police Survivors and widow of Officer Philip Closi, urged passage and described ongoing financial and emotional burdens after line‑of‑duty deaths.

Officials from the Nevada System of Higher Education and University of Nevada, Reno expressed support for the policy but raised fiscal questions. Senator Cruz Crawford said NSHE projected a fiscal impact "about $7,000,000" when combined with existing waivers for foster youth, National Guard and tribal waivers; NSHE and bill sponsors discussed whether the bill would cover "tuition charges" only or also fees, textbooks and other costs. Sponsors noted an existing, limited trust fund (NRS 396.545) with a balance cited in testimony of roughly $73,000 and said the governor’s requested appropriation to that fund this biennium was $25,000 — amounts supporters described as insufficient to cover broad tuition waivers without a statutory change.

Committee members asked whether the exemption should be retroactive or include other circumstances (for example, an officer killed off‑duty while en route home). Committee counsel recommended working with legal staff to refine language to capture the intended cases. Sponsors said they were open to amendment and to working with NSHE and other stakeholders on placement in statute (discussing possible locations in NRS) and on whether the statute should explicitly include fees as well as tuition.

Ending: After broadly supportive testimony from law enforcement unions, university representatives and surviving family members, the committee closed the hearing on SB237. Sponsors and legal counsel indicated they would work on statutory language and possible technical amendments before further action. No committee vote is recorded in the transcript.