summary
Introduced
04/02/2026
04/02/2026
In Committee
04/02/2026
04/02/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Joint Budget Committee. In current law, a person who is a member of the Colorado National Guard who is accepted for enrollment at a designated institution of higher education (member) has all their tuition costs waived. All tuition waiver costs are currently funded by the state from money in the Colorado National Guard tuition fund. The bill changes the funding mechanism of the Colorado National Guard tuition waiver program by requiring each designated institution of higher education to waive the remaining balance of a member's tuition cost in excess of the amount of any private, state, or federal financial assistance received. The bill requires the department of military and veterans affairs to reimburse each institution for 50% of the cost of tuition waived by the institution and requires the general assembly to appropriate money to the Colorado National Guard tuition fund to cover the reimbursement.
AI Summary
This bill modifies how tuition waivers are funded for members of the Colorado National Guard pursuing higher education. Previously, the state fully covered tuition costs for eligible National Guard members at designated institutions of higher education, drawing from a specific fund. Under this new legislation, each college or university will first apply any private, state, or federal financial aid a Guard member receives towards their tuition, and then waive the remaining balance. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will then reimburse these institutions for 50% of the tuition costs they waived, with the General Assembly responsible for appropriating the necessary funds to the Colorado National Guard tuition fund to cover these reimbursements. This change aims to shift some of the financial responsibility for the tuition waiver program to the educational institutions themselves, while still ensuring state support for Guard members.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (6)
Jeff Bridges (D)*,
Kyle Brown (D)*,
Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)*,
Rick Taggart (R)*,
Judy Amabile (D),
Emily Sirota (D),
Last Action
House Appropriations Hearing (00:00:00 4/6/2026 Room Old State Library) (on 04/06/2026)
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://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1386 |
| Fiscal Note Initial Fiscal Note | https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114111/download |
| BillText | https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114037/download |
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