Current:Home > ContactVirginia lawmakers repeal restrictions on popular tuition waiver program for military families -MoneyStream
Virginia lawmakers repeal restrictions on popular tuition waiver program for military families
View
Date:2025-04-17 11:07:41
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to legislation that will repeal new restrictions on a tuition waiver program for military families.
The House of Delegates and state Senate each voted unanimously to fully restore the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, which offers free college tuition at state schools for families of military veterans who were killed or seriously disabled while on active duty.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin returned to Richmond on Thursday from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to sign the legislation into law.
The program’s costs have risen from $12 million to $65 million in five years. The state budget passed earlier this year restricted eligibility for the program to associate and undergraduate degrees, required participants to apply for other forms of financial aid and tightened residency requirements.
Veterans and their families vehemently protested the new restrictions, but state lawmakers struggled for weeks to reach an agreement on a solution.
The Washington Post reports that the bills approved Thursday set aside $45 million a year over the next two years to help colleges and universities deal with the expense, on top of $20 million per year that was already included in the budget.
Several groups are working on a long-term solution to control the costs of the program, including a task force appointed by Youngkin and a separate task force appointed by the Senate. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission is also studying how to preserve the program. Lawmakers said they would take the issue up again in the General Assembly regular session in January.
veryGood! (447)
Related
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Michael Jordan's 'Last Dance' sneakers sell for a record-breaking $2.2 million
- How much is your reputation worth?
- Texas’ Wildfire Risks, Amplified by Climate Change, Are Second Only to California’s
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Christy Carlson Romano Reacts to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s Even Stevens-Approved Baby Name
- An indicator that often points to recession could be giving a false signal this time
- A Florida Chemical Plant Has Fallen Behind in Its Pledge to Cut Emissions of a Potent Greenhouse Gas
- Average rate on 30
- Phoenix residents ration air conditioning, fearing future electric bills, as record-breaking heat turns homes into air fryers
Ranking
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Doctors are drowning in paperwork. Some companies claim AI can help
- The EPA says Americans could save $1 trillion on gas under its auto emissions plan
- Montana becomes 1st state to approve a full ban of TikTok
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Biden names CIA Director William Burns to his cabinet
- Inside Clean Energy: Drought is Causing U.S. Hydropower to Have a Rough Year. Is This a Sign of a Long-Term Shift?
- Dear Life Kit: My boyfriend's parents pay for everything. It makes me uncomfortable
Recommendation
Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
Now on Hold, Georgia’s Progressive Program for Rooftop Solar Comes With a Catch
SpaceX prepares to launch its mammoth rocket 'Starship'
Al Jaffee, longtime 'Mad Magazine' cartoonist, dies at 102
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Polaris Guitarist Ryan Siew Dead at 26
US Energy Transition Presents Organized Labor With New Opportunities, But Also Some Old Challenges
Blake Lively Gives a Nod to Baby No. 4 While Announcing New Business Venture