Bill > HB496

This bill creates the "First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act" which provides a comprehensive tuition waiver program for first responders and their legal dependents at public higher education institutions in Missouri. The bill defines first responders broadly, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, peace officers, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals. First responders can receive a 100% tuition waiver for up to five consecutive years if they maintain a current professional license, meet admission requirements, and pursue a degree related to their first responder career. Similarly, legal dependents of first responders are eligible for the same tuition waiver, provided they have not already earned a baccalaureate degree, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and meet institutional admission requirements. The tuition waiver covers the remaining tuition after subtracting federal and state financial aid. Recipients must agree to reside in Missouri for five years after using the tuition waiver and file annual state tax returns to prove residency, with potential repayment of waived tuition if these conditions are not met. The bill includes provisions for waiving repayment obligations in cases of total disability or death, and provides a mechanism for legal dependents of first responders who die in the line of duty to still qualify for the tuition waiver.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB496&year=2025&code=R