Bill
HB 5175
Expands the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant by removing a felony-involving-violence disqualification, while preserving other eligibility rules.
Status and timeline (key actions)
- Introduced Oct. 17, 2023 (sponsors: Reps. Amos O’Neal, Kara Hope, Jimmie Wilson).
- Reported from the House Higher Education Committee (Dec. 4, 2024).
- Passed the Michigan House (Dec. 13, 2024; Roll Call #522 — 56 yeas, 0 nays).
- Referred to the Committee on Government Operations (Dec. 18, 2024).
- Note: bill number HB 5175 has appeared in other sessions/documents; this summary covers the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Act amendments (MCL 390.1342 & 390.1344).
Purpose / intent
- To expand eligibility for the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant by removing a statutory disqualification that barred students who had been convicted of a felony involving an assault, physical injury, or death from receiving the grant.
- To update statutory references to reflect administrative reorganization (oversight moved from the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority to the Michigan Finance Authority per Executive Order 2010-2).
Key substantive changes
- Amends sections 2 and 4 of 2005 PA 248 (MCL 390.1342 & 390.1344):
- Deletes the provision that disqualifies any student “who has been convicted of a felony involving an assault, physical injury, or death.”
- Revises language to reflect the authority’s successor (MFA) where applicable.
- Retains the program’s existing eligibility framework: age limits (more than 16 and less than 26), residency (12 months in Michigan), citizenship/permanent-resident requirement, relationship to a qualifying Michigan veteran (killed in action, VA-determined total and permanent service-connected disability, missing in action, etc.), minimum cumulative GPA (2.25), and the 4‑academic‑year limit on receipt of assistance.
Program details / benefits
- Award level cited: $2,800 for a full‑time student in FY 2023–24; part‑time awards equal half of full‑time amount.
- Authority may prorate grants if funding is insufficient (with legislative notice).
Fiscal and programmatic impact
- House Fiscal Agency estimates a slight but indeterminate increase in program costs from newly eligible students.
- Example: ~20 additional recipients would increase costs by roughly $56,000 — likely within current appropriation levels given FY 2021–22 program size (404 recipients).
- Actual fiscal impact depends on how many previously-disqualified individuals meet all eligibility requirements and enroll.
Stakeholder positions
- Testimony in support from the Department of Corrections, multiple universities and prison education programs (e.g., Calvin Prison Initiative, Eastern Michigan University, Siena Heights, Nation Outside), and several higher-education and justice-reform organizations.
Effected parties
- Primary: Michigan residents who are natural or adopted children of qualifying Michigan veterans and who were previously disqualified solely because of specified felony convictions.
- Secondary: eligible institutions and the Michigan Finance Authority (administration/oversight).
Procedural note
- HB 5175 was considered alongside related proposals (HB 5176 and HB 5177) addressing eligibility for other state tuition assistance programs for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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