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SB 7

Higher Education - Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship - Repeal of Termination Date

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dalya Attar and 46 co-sponsors

SB 7 makes Maryland's Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans scholarship permanent by removing its termination date, ensuring indefinite funding without future reauthorization.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 59
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Bill Summary · SB 7

Legislative bill overview

SB 7 removes the termination date from the Douglas J. J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship program in Maryland, allowing it to continue indefinitely rather than expire on a set date. The bill ensures ongoing funding and availability of this scholarship for eligible veterans and their dependents without requiring future legislative reauthorization.

Why is this important

Veterans' scholarships provide critical financial support for service members transitioning to civilian life and pursuing higher education. Making this program permanent removes administrative uncertainty and signals sustained state commitment to supporting Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, though it also commits future state budgets to ongoing expenditures without sunset review.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal commitment: Removing termination dates eliminates periodic legislative review of program effectiveness and cost, potentially locking in perpetual spending without accountability checkpoints
  • Scope questions: Unclear whether the scholarship adequately serves all eligible veterans or whether permanent status should be contingent on performance metrics
  • Budgetary priority: States face competing demands; permanent scholarships may compete with other education funding needs during economic downturns

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

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