SB169 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Keith KelleySenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Military Affairs; expands educational benefits for military dependents

Summary

SB169 would expand Alabama's educational benefits for eligible veterans' dependents to cover post-bachelor and graduate medical studies, with specific eligibility rules and cost limits.

What This Bill Does

It adds post-bachelor and graduate studies in a medical field to the education benefits for eligible dependents. The benefits apply to children and spouses/widows of veterans who were killed, missing, POW, or who have service-connected disabilities (including certain disability rating levels), and include in-state tuition for qualifying programs; private schools may use tuition assistance caps and reimburse books/fees. Time limits and age rules apply: dependents can use up to five standard academic years (about 45 months), with completion required within eight years after initiation and specific start/age limits (e.g., training must begin before the child’s 30th birthday and not extend beyond the 38th birthday for children; spouses have separate limits, including a 27-month cap for some cases). The act takes effect January 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Children of veterans who were killed, listed as missing, were POW, or have service-connected disabilities (including certain disability ratings). These children would be eligible for up to five standard academic years (about 45 months) of qualifying education, with in-state tuition limits and age/time restrictions (start before age 30; completion within eight years; no education beyond the child’s 38th birthday).
• Group 2: Spouses and widows of such veterans, who may receive training for up to five standard academic years (45 months) under certain disability conditions, with a separate 27-month limit for those whose veteran had 40–90% disability, one change of program allowed, and remarriage rules affecting eligibility; private school rules and book/fees reimbursements also apply, with completion generally within eight years.

Key Provisions

• Expands benefits to post-bachelor and graduate medical-field studies for eligible dependents.
• Applies to children and spouses/widows of veterans who are deceased, missing, POW, or have service-connected disabilities (including 20–39% and 40–90% bands).
• Tuition limits: benefits cover in-state tuition for qualifying programs; private schools use DoD Tuition Assistance cap for tuition and $1,000 per student for books/fees.
• Time limits and age rules: most dependents have up to five standard academic years (45 months); start before certain ages (e.g., before 30 for children); completion must occur within eight years (with exceptions for military delays) and may not extend beyond the specified birthday thresholds (e.g., 38th birthday for children). Spouses have related limits, with specific provisions for different disability levels (including a 27-month cap for 40–90% disability).
• Remarriage provisions: spouses who remarry during attendance may face loss of benefits or requirement to pay tuition.
• Effective date: January 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Military