Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 983
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Became Law
- Became Law
- Public Law 119-55
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-12: Became Public Law No: 119-55.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T12:43:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 (H.R. 983)
Purpose
This legislation aims to ensure that public colleges and universities charge in-state tuition rates to veterans using educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program. It extends existing rules that already apply to other veterans' education benefits, preventing higher out-of-state costs for eligible service members and their families.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, to include chapter 1606 of title 10 (Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve) in the list of programs where the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may disapprove courses at public institutions that do not offer in-state tuition to qualifying veterans.
- Adds individuals entitled to benefits under section 16131 of title 10 to the definition of covered persons who must receive in-state rates.
- Makes conforming changes to subsection (e) of section 3679 to align references across related provisions.
- Sets an effective date of the date of enactment, with application to academic periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, the in-state tuition requirement and VA disapproval authority applied only to benefits under chapters 30, 31, 33, and 35 of title 38. This Act expands those rules to chapter 1606 of title 10.
- Institutions that fail to comply may now have their courses disapproved for Selected Reserve benefit recipients, in addition to other GI Bill users.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The VA gains expanded authority to review and disapprove courses for an additional category of veterans' benefits, potentially increasing administrative oversight of public higher education institutions.
- Citizens: Veterans in the Selected Reserve and their dependents may gain broader access to affordable in-state tuition at public colleges, reducing financial barriers to education.
- No direct effects on international relations are addressed in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans entitled to Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve benefits (chapter 1606 of title 10).
- Public institutions of higher learning that enroll these veterans.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs, which administers the disapproval process.
- State governments and higher education systems responsible for tuition policies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The Act builds on prior laws requiring in-state tuition fairness for veterans, promoting consistent treatment across different education benefit programs without altering constitutional authority over education or federal spending.
- It introduces no new funding mechanisms or penalties beyond the existing disapproval process for non-compliant institutions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-12: Became Public Law No: 119-55.
- 2025-12-12: Became Public Law No: 119-55.
- 2025-12-12: Signed by President.
- 2025-12-12: Signed by President.
- 2025-12-03: Presented to President.
- 2025-12-03: Presented to President.
- 2025-11-20: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-11-20: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8400)
- 2025-11-20: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-20: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-20: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-04-08: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-04-07: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-04-07: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1432)
- 2025-04-07: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1432)
Bill Versions
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-07 — PDF (4 pages)
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-22 — PDF (2 pages)
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (3 pages)