SB 1291

Present law requires the adjutant general for this state's national guard to provide tuition reimbursement to eligible national guard members ("member"") through the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) program (""program""), which terminates on June 30, 2025. This bill deletes the t e rmination date and makes other changes as discussed below. ELIGIBILITY Present law provides that a member becomes ineligible for tuition reimbursement when the member (i) has attempted 120 semester hours toward the member's first bachelor's degree, (ii) has completed eight full-time equivalent semesters, or (iii) has earned a first bachelor's degree. This bill removes the eight-semester limitation and changes the maximum number of reimbursable hours from 120 to 130 semester hours. Present law requires that members eligible for federal tuition assistance must apply for and use federal tuition assistance. This bill provides that if a member is suspended from receiving federal tuition assistance due to academic performance or recoupment, then such member is ineligible for tuition reimbursement through the program. REIMBURSEMENT Upon successful application by an eligible member attending a public educational institution, present law requires the department of military (""department"") to pay 100% of the m aximum resident in-state tuition charged by the school, less all applicable state or federal financial assistance. This bill requires the department to also pay undergraduate course fees or master's degree program fees in an amount determined annually by the department's policy. Present law provides that tuition includes all mandatory fees. This bill defines mandatory fees as parking fees, technology fees, and library fees. Present law requires members to apply for tuition reimbursement within 90 days of course completion. This bill changes the application deadline from within 90 days to within 45 days of course completion. ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 114, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 requires the department of military to publish the policy establishing the payment amounts for undergraduate course fees and master's degree program fees on the department of military's website by August 1 of each year for the upcoming academic year."