HB 1868

For the 2026-2027 academic year , and each academic year thereafter , this bill entitles a resident of this state who is under 23 and who is the natural child, stepchild, adopted child, or posthumous child (" dependent child "") of a law enforcement officer or firefighter who was killed, or who died as a direct result of injuries received, while performing their official duties as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, to a waiver of tuition, maintenance fees, student activit y fees, and any required registra tion or matriculation fees at the public institution of higher education at which the dependent child is admitted and enrolled. ""LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER"" AND ""FIREFIGHTER"" DEFINED As used in this bill, a ""law enforcement officer"" means a ( i ) p olice officer of a municipality in this state; ( ii ) c ommissioned member of the department of safety, the wildlife resources agency, or the Tennessee bureau of investigation; ( iii ) s heriff or deputy sheriff of a county in this state who is engaged in law enforcement; or ( iv ) c orrectional officer employed by the department of correction or the department of children's services . Further, as used in this bill, a ""firefighter"" includes a bona fide member of a volunteer fire department . DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR WAIVER In order to receive a waiver of tuition and fees pursuant to this bill, this bill requires the dependent child to present to the public institution of higher education at which the dependent child is enrolled official certification from the state, local government, agency, or department that employed the law enforcement officer or firefighter verifying that the law enforcement officer or firefighter was killed, or died as a direct result of injuries received, while performing their official duties as a law enforcement officer or firefighter. REFUNDS OR CREDIT NOT PERMITTED This bill clarifies that a dependent child who qualifies for a waiver of tuition and fees pursuant to this bill after the dependent child has paid all tuition and fees assessed for the term by the public institution of higher education at which the dependent child is enrolled, is not entitled to any refund or credit in the amount of the previously paid tuition and fees. DETERMINING AGE FOR APPLICABILITY This bill prohibits t he age limitation for dependent children described above from be ing strictly applied. To be eligible for a waiver of tuition and fees pursuant to this bill, the dependent child must be matriculated as a full-time student at a public institution of higher education before attaining 23. Once declared eligible, the dependent child remains eligible until one of the following events has occurred:  Before attaining 23, the dependent child earns an undergraduate degree or certificate .  The dependent child has earned 135 semester hours, or the equivalent, excluding any required remedial or developmental hours .  The dependent child has attempted 150 semester hours, or the equivalent, including any required remedial or developmental hours. REQUIRED POSTING This bill requires each public institution of higher education to post information regarding the tuition and fee waiver established in this bill on the institution's website."