Committee approves SB 220 to remove 10‑year cap and raise graduate tuition cap for veterans

Senator Milner introduced Senate Bill 220 to amend veteran scholarship rules affecting Purple Heart recipients and other eligible service members. The bill would remove an existing 10‑year limit on eligibility for graduate tuition assistance and increase the maximum graduate tuition contribution from $10,000 to $15,000.

Milner said the change responds to a case where a service member who remained on active National Guard duty and was deployed multiple times exceeded an arbitrary 10‑year limit; removing the cap would let eligible veterans access graduate assistance when deployment or service schedules delay degree progress. Milner told the committee there are about 232 living Purple Heart recipients in the state and characterized the change as modest but meaningful.

No public opposition was recorded in committee. Senator Baldry moved the favorable recommendation; the committee voted and the chair ruled the motion unanimous. SB 220 will proceed to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.