RELEASE: Bill to give Military Members In-State Community College Tuition Approved
DENVER, CO - A bipartisan bill aiming to save service members and their families money by reducing education costs, passed the Senate Education Committee today. HB20-1275, sponsored by Senator Pete Lee, allows active members of the United States military, veterans, and their families to receive in-state tuition for Colorado community colleges regardless if they reside in Colorado.
“Our servicemen and women deserve to obtain a quality education no matter where in the world their job takes them,” said Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs). This bill is about investing in those who invest in our safety and freedom every day.”
Most military members and their families move every two to three years, with some families moving even more frequently than that. Ultimately, this leads to difficulties in fulfilling residency requirements. By allowing military members and their families to attend Colorado community colleges at an in-state tuition rate without requiring them to achieve permanent residency standards, military members will no longer need to jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to receive an education.
HB20-1275 permits active members of the United States armed forces, veterans, or one of their dependents, eligibility for in-state tuition at any Colorado community college whether or not they officially fulfill Colorado residency status. Our servicemen and women, veterans, and family members have sacrificed so much for us, and this is a way we can support them in their dreams.
The bill will now be heard in the committee of the whole. For more information about HB20-1275, please click here.