PRIA Logo™
ColoradoSB25-2472025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Tuition Waiver & Colorado National Guard Members

Sponsored By: Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican), Shannon Bird

Signed by Governor

Higher EducationMilitary & Veterans

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Guard tuition waivers with eligibility limits

The law replaces Colorado National Guard tuition assistance with full tuition waivers, subject to yearly state funding. Enlisted members and officers must have school acceptance, good Guard standing, and a completed state financial aid application or FAFSA. Waivers cover postgraduate, bachelor's, associate, and certificate studies only at designated Colorado universities, community colleges, area technical colleges, and local district colleges. Limits are 65 credits at two-year schools, 130 at four-year schools, or 145 total when attending both types. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs sets additional eligibility rules for postgraduate students.

Enrollment and budget limits on Guard waivers

Each school's base enrollment is its average Guard enrollment over the previous three fall semesters. When enrollment rises significantly, the allowed increase is capped at the greater of 25% or five members. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs sets selection rules with schools and sets community college enrollment caps. If calculated base-enrollment tuition differs from yearly funding by less than 25%, the department may reduce school funding proportionally. A difference above 25% suspends the program; remaining funds go out first-come, first-served until exhausted.

Guard members face tuition repayment rules

Schools must check whether Guard members meet academic standards and make progress toward completing their program. Members who fail either test must repay the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for that term's waived tuition. The department may also recover that term's waiver if a member leaves the Guard in violation of an agreement. Repayments go into the Colorado National Guard Tuition Fund.

State funding supports Guard tuition waivers

For state budget year 2025-26, the law provides $562,787 from the general fund for Guard tuition waivers. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs administers the program through its executive director's office. A new Colorado National Guard Tuition Fund holds program money and repayments, with ongoing authority to pay waivers. Unspent money stays in the fund, and the department may request budget changes as enrollment and tuition costs change. Community college funding goes through the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education for distribution to schools with enrolled members.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Barbara Kirkmeyer

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeff Bridges

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rick Taggart

    Republican • House

  • Shannon Bird

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Brandi Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Dusty Johnson

    Republican • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Jarvis Caldwell

    Republican • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Garcia Sander

    Republican • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Rep. R. Armagost

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

  • Scott Bottoms

    Republican • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dafna Michaelson Jenet

    Democratic • Senate

  • John Carson

    Republican • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Mullica

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marc Catlin

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 114 • No: 2

House vote • 4/10/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 62 • No: 2

House vote • 4/8/2025

Refer Senate Bill 25-247 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Refer Senate Bill 25-247, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/1/2025House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    4/25/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    4/25/2025House

  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/24/2025Senate

  5. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/10/2025House

  6. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

    4/9/2025House

  7. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

    4/8/2025House

  8. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/3/2025Senate

  9. Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

    4/3/2025House

  10. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    4/2/2025Senate

  11. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/1/2025Senate

  12. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

    3/31/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation