Bill
Bill > A638
NJ A638
NJ A638Requires public institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Medal military recipients.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires public institutions of higher education to waive the tuition and fees for any service member or veteran living in New Jersey who is the recipient of a Medal of Honor or Purple Heart Medal provided that the service member or veteran has: (1) been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution; and (2) applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the service member or veteran is eligible. The service member or veteran is permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at the institution and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free for a maximum of eight semesters. Under the bill, a service member or veteran will demonstrate eligibility for waived tuition and fees in a manner and by a date determined by the governing board of the public institution of higher education.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that public colleges and universities in New Jersey must waive tuition and fees for any New Jersey resident who is a service member or veteran and has received either the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor, or the Purple Heart Medal, awarded to those wounded or killed in action. To qualify for this benefit, the service member or veteran must be accepted into and maintain good academic standing as an undergraduate student, and must have applied for all eligible state and federal student financial aid. They will be allowed to take up to 16 credits per semester without paying tuition or fees for a maximum of eight semesters, with the specific process for proving eligibility to be determined by each institution's governing board. This provision will take effect at the start of the academic year following the bill's enactment.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A638 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1000/638_I1.HTM |
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