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HB 69

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2026 Regular Session

The bill expands access by prohibiting admission denial based on military service, mandating enrollment deferments, and granting in-state tuition to qualifying honorably discharged

Third Reading in House of Origin
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Bill Summary · HB 69

Summary — HB 69: "Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act"

Status (bill stage)
- Introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly (2025 session). Committee substitute versions were filed and considered in early 2025. If enacted, the bill takes effect when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year.

Purpose
- To protect and expand higher‑education access for active‑duty service members, reservists, their spouses, and certain honorably discharged veterans by (1) prohibiting admission denials based solely on military service or intent to serve, (2) requiring post‑admission deferment policies for students entering military service, and (3) extending in‑state tuition eligibility to qualifying honorably discharged veterans regardless of the usual residency timeline.

Key provisions
1. Nondiscriminatory admissions evaluations
- Constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina may not deny admission solely because an applicant indicates they are serving in, or intend to serve in, the uniformed services.

  1. Mandatory admission deferment policy (Board of Governors)

    • The UNC Board of Governors must adopt a policy requiring constituent institutions to allow admitted applicants to defer enrollment if notice is provided at least 30 days before enrollment.
    • Deferment durations:
      • Reserve Armed Forces members: at least 2 years after accepting reserve entry.
      • All other uniformed service members (active duty): at least 5 years after entry into active duty.
    • Later committee language also extends deferment eligibility to spouses of service members.

  2. In‑state tuition for qualifying veterans

    • Creates a new in‑state tuition benefit for "qualifying veterans." To qualify a person must:
      • Have served at least 90 days of active duty,
      • Have received an honorable discharge, and
      • Meet at least one of: graduated from a North Carolina high school on/after Jan 1, 2004; had a permanent duty station in NC for ≥90 continuous days; or been awarded a Purple Heart.
    • Qualifying veterans admitted to any NC institution of higher education are charged the in‑state tuition rate and mandatory fees without meeting the usual 12‑month residency requirement.
    • Applicant bears the burden of proving entitlement.

Definitions (selected)
- “Uniformed service” includes Armed Forces, Reserve components, and the Merchant Marine.
- “Constituent institution of The University of North Carolina” — UNC campuses (excludes the NC School of Science and Mathematics in the versions provided).
- “Qualifying veteran” — as described above.

Who is affected
- Active‑duty service members and reservists who apply to UNC constituent institutions (and, in some provisions, their spouses).
- Honorably discharged veterans meeting the bill’s criteria who seek enrollment at any NC public institution.
- University admissions offices, registrars, financial aid offices, and the UNC Board of Governors (policy responsibility).
- Potential indirect effects on enrollment planning, residency determinations, and tuition revenue at public institutions.

Procedural / timeline notes
- Institutions must implement Board of Governors’ deferment policy once adopted.
- The in‑state tuition benefit applies to enrollments beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year if and when the bill becomes law.
- The bill places documentation burden on applicants to demonstrate veteran status and qualifying criteria.

Potential impacts and considerations
- Access: likely improves access and affordability for veterans and service members.
- Administrative: colleges must adopt processes for deferments and for verifying veteran eligibility and residency exceptions.
- Fiscal: shifting some veteran students from out‑of‑state to in‑state tuition could reduce tuition revenue per student; no specific fiscal estimate is included in the bill text provided.
- Legal: the bill defers to federal law where conflicts exist (e.g., readmission rights under federal regulations).

For further detail
- See the full text of Article additions to Chapter 116 (new sections creating admission/deferment rules and a new tuition section) and the bill’s defined effective date (upon becoming law).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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