Bills to ease educational barriers for veterans, military families pass House

Briana Kraemer

Carolina Journal

The North Carolina House passed two bipartisan bills to remove educational barriers for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families in an effort to honor military service and strengthen the state’s workforce.

House Bill 69,  Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act, allows UNC System students who join the military to defer their admission for up to five years (active duty) or two years (Reserves/National Guard). It also grants in-state tuition to veterans who graduated from a North Carolina high school, were stationed in the state for 90 days, or received the Purple Heart, extending GI Bill benefits for veterans.

The bill is sponsored by an all-veteran and bipartisan group of lawmakers, including state Reps. Grant Campbell, R-Cabarrus; Allen Chesser, R-Nash; Kelly Hastings, R-Gaston; and Dante Pittman, D-Wilson.

“This bill will make sure that any of those men and women who, on one hand hold an acceptance to their dream school, and on the other hand love to serve their country, that they don’t have to make a choice between the two,” said Campbell.

House Bill 373, UNC Tuition Discounts for Certain Students, allows the UNC system to discount tuition for students with military or employer tuition assistance, potentially reducing costs to zero. With over 90% of eligible students currently studying out of state, the bill could retain talent and generate $20 million in UNC revenue. The bill was filed at the request of the UNC System.

“North Carolina has a rich military history. We have for a long time,” said co-sponsor Rep. Ray Pickett, R-Watauga. “I believe that we can do everything we can to support our veterans, and this is a step in the right direction to further their education and hopefully get them to stay right here in our own state. Many of them serve here, they’d like to call it home, and this gives an opportunity to give them something that they can come back here, get back into regular civilian life, and be a productive part of our society.”

With strong bipartisan support and UNC System backing, the bills now head to the Senate.