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HB 381

AN ACT relating to disabled and deceased veteran benefits.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Callaway and 3 co-sponsors

The bill waives tuition and fees for eligible dependents and spouses of deceased or totally disabled veterans to pursue state-supported higher education up to 128 credits or 45 mon

to Postsecondary Education (H)
#education #finance #higher #nationalguard #veterans
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Bill Summary · HB 381

Overview

HB 381 (2026 Session, Kentucky) is an act relating to benefits for disabled and deceased veterans and certain family members. The bill expands and clarifies tuition-free education eligibility at state-supported higher education institutions for eligible veterans, their spouses, and certain descendants, and sets out requirements for proving eligibility and related administrative details.

Purpose and intent

  • Provide tuition-free (matriculation or tuition fees waived) admission for eligible family members of veterans or disabled veterans to state-supported universities, community colleges, or vocational training institutions.
  • Align benefits with scenarios involving death, disability, active duty, or status as a missing in action/POW, and ensure eligibility for qualifying Kentucky residents.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1 — Tuition benefits for deceased veterans’ family members

  • Applies to:
    • Nonremarried spouses of deceased veterans (regardless of age).
    • Children, stepchildren, or orphans under age 26.
  • Benefit: Waiver of matriculation or tuition fees for up to:
    • 128 credit hours of undergraduate instruction, or
    • Up to 45 months of study toward a diploma (or the lesser number of months required for a certificate).
  • Eligibility triggers:
    • Veteran served in U.S. Armed Forces during a national emergency, wars declared by Congress, or UN actions; or
    • Died while on active duty; or
    • Died due to a service-connected disability acquired on active duty.
  • Residency and marital criteria:
    • The veteran or spouse must have been a Kentucky resident at death, or the spouse must have been a Kentucky resident at death.
    • If discharged, must have been honorable.
  • Proof of relationship and service:
    • Requires documentary evidence (birth certificates, adoption papers, marriage certificates, etc.).
    • Service and cause of death certified by Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, U.S. VA, or U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Scholarship offset:
    • If the student receives cash scholarships, amounts may be applied to incidental costs, with any remaining balance returned to the student if permitted by the scholarship terms.

Section 2 — Tuition benefits for disabled/total disability scenarios (National Guard, Reserve, etc.)

  • Applies to:
    • Spouse, child, stepchild, or orphan of a permanently and totally disabled Kentucky National Guard or Reserve member (injured on state active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training), or a 100% service-connected disabled veteran, or a missing in action/POW.
    • Also applies to a spouse/child/stepchild/orphan of a veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled, or POW/MIA.
  • Benefit: Waiver of tuition/fees for up to:
    • 128 credit hours, or
    • 45 months toward a diploma/certificate (same structure as Section 1).
  • Eligibility criteria:
    • The parent or stepparent must be permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes or 100% disabled for compensation (as applicable by status).
    • For National Guard members, disability must be per KRS Chapter 342.
    • Verification through certificates from the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, U.S. VA, or DoD.
  • Relationships and proof:
    • Parent-child relationship shown via birth/adoption/marriage documentation.
    • Stepchild must have lived in the veteran’s household.
    • Spousal relationship evidenced by marriage certificate or equivalent.
  • Additional requirements:
    • The veteran/Guard member must have served on state active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, or active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, with honorable discharge.
    • Residency requirement: Kentucky resident at time of death or current resident if living.
  • Protections:
    • Prohibits denial of benefits to eligible spouse/child/stepchild/orphan due to military personnel enlisting or fulfilling obligations, with possible time compensation beyond age 26 if required but not beyond enrollment period under subsection (1).

Who is affected

  • Eligible nonremarried spouses (of deceased veterans) of Kentucky residents.
  • Children, stepchildren, and orphans (under 26) of deceased veterans.
  • Spouses, children, stepchildren, and orphans of permanently and totally disabled National Guard/Reserve members or 100% disabled veterans, or POW/MIA.
  • Kentucky residents pursuing higher education at state-supported institutions, including those with cash scholarships that would otherwise cover costs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Certification and evidence:
    • Eligibility must be shown with specific documents (birth, adoption, marriage certificates, or other documentary evidence).
    • Service and cause of death (or disability status) certified by designated Kentucky or federal military/human services agencies.
  • Application scope:
    • Applies to undergraduate credit hours up to 128 or 45 months of diploma/certificate programs.
  • Relations and discharge:
    • Requires honorable discharge where applicable.
    • Extension of benefits is structured to ensure time spent in service may be compensated if enrollment requirements exceed 26 years, but not beyond program enrollment limits.
  • Effective date and implementation:
    • As a newly enacted act, benefits would apply to eligible individuals under the statutes as amended; the bill text does not specify retroactivity or explicit effective dates beyond enactment.

Potential impact

  • Financial relief for eligible families of veterans and disabled veterans by eliminating tuition/fee costs up to specified limits.
  • Expanded access to higher education for dependents and spouses of certain veterans, potentially increasing college enrollment among these groups.
  • Administrative processes will involve verification through the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, VA, or DoD, and documentation for familial relationships.

Notes: The bill is described as “unofficial copy” and is subject to legislative approval and any amendments during the 2026 session.

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

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