Bill > SB2058

This bill establishes the Mississippi "Disabled Veteran and Dependents Patriot Scholarship Program" to provide tuition and fee waivers for eligible veterans and their dependents attending Mississippi universities, colleges, and technical schools. The program defines a "veteran" as someone with specific service-connected disability conditions, such as being a former prisoner of war, missing in action, having died from a service-connected disability, or having a disability rating of 40% or more. Dependents include children, stepchildren, spouses, and unmarried widows/widowers of qualifying veterans. To be eligible, veterans must have an honorable discharge and meet residency requirements. Starting July 1, 2025, applicants must be current Mississippi residents, complete a FAFSA, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and submit a FERPA release form. The program offers up to five academic years of tuition coverage for children and stepchildren of 100% disabled veterans, three years for dependents of veterans with 40-90% disability ratings, and has age limits (generally up to 26, with potential extension to 30). The scholarship will be limited to the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Cap and $2,000 per semester for books and fees. The Adjutant General will administer the program, and applicants can obtain applications from Mississippi Department of Veterans Affairs offices.

Military Affairs and Security

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2058.xml