Virginia House quickly passes repeal of military tuition program changes, but Senate fate unclear

The Virginia House of Delegates quickly and unanimously passed a full repeal of changes to a military family tuition program Friday, but its fate in the Virginia Senate remains unclear.

Delegates approved a bill repealing controversial changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, which assists children and spouses of some veterans killed or injured in action with college tuition.

Additionally, House Bill 6003 would add $20 million in both the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to the program from the general fund to offset rising costs.

It’s unclear whether Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee chair, will allow the bill to be heard in the Senate. Lucas did not immediately respond to a phone call or text message asking for comment.

Virginia Senate Democrats instead unveiled a new proposal for fixing the tuition program Thursday evening. Senate Bill 6009 would delay the changes until July 1, 2025 and add $45 million to the program from the state’s general fund in the 2025 fiscal year. It would also direct the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission to review the program and recommend changes by Sept. 1.

Lucas said in a news release she would take up the bill at the next Finance Committee meeting on Monday.

“The House and Governor should accept this proposal, as it is the only solution that funds the cost of the program and provides an independent review of the data to help with additional program recommendations,” Lucas said in the release.

Lucas declined to hear bills that would have fully repealed the changes during a Finance Committee meeting June 18. The move drew criticism from Republicans and Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

In a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, Youngkin rejected the proposed Senate bill.

“We are not going to hold our veterans and first responders hostage for an entire year,” he wrote. “A full, clean repeal and reversal of the VMSDEP eligibility changes is the only next step.”

Lucas shot back in a post on X, saying Youngkin should sign her proposed legislation and noted how much more funding it would add to the program.

The Virginia budget, which goes into effect July 1, imposes several new restriction on the tuition program, like requiring applicants to be Virginia residents and limiting the program waivers to undergraduate degrees. The budget also requires applicants to apply for and use other sources of state and federal financial aid first.

Previously, the program provided tuition waivers and an annual stipend to spouses and children of veterans who are killed, missing in action, taken prisoner or at least 90% permanently disabled as a result of service.

The changes have been widely criticized by military families, many of whom live in Hampton Roads.

However, lawmakers have said the program is costing Virginia colleges and universities too much money, allowing them to complete pricey post-graduate degree programs at places like University of Virginia law school or medical school.

The Virginia Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. Monday.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com