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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6439
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING A FEE WAIVER AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 10a-26 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
(a) For the purposes of this section, sections 10a-77, as amended by 3
this act, 10a-99, as amended by this act, and 10a-105, as amended by this 4
act, and this part: (1) A "full-time student" means a student who has been 5
registered and who has been accepted for matriculation at a constituent 6
unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading 7
to an associate, bachelor or advanced degree or whose course of 8
instruction or credit hour load indicates pursuit toward a degree; (2) 9
"tuition" means a direct charge for institutional programs, which is 10
clearly delineated from any other fees. 11
(b) In order to defray part of the cost of the higher education 12
institutional programs at the constituent units of the state system of 13
higher education, tuition shall be charged as provided in said sections 14
10a-77, as amended by this act, 10a-99, as amended by this act, and 10a-15
105, as amended by this act, for each full-time student or shall be 16
prorated in the case of a student carrying less than seventy-five per cent 17 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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of the credit hours defined as a full-time load by the institution. Any 18
person enrolled in and paying extension fees for a course in an 19
educational extension program, [or] including for a course in a summer 20
or winter school session or intersession, shall not be charged tuition for 21
such course. 22
(c) Fees charged for educational extension programs, [and for] 23
including for summer or winter school sessions or intersessions, under 24
sections 10a-77, as amended by this act, 10a-99, as amended by this act, 25
and 10a-105, as amended by this act, shall not be deemed to be tuition 26
within the meaning of this section. 27
Sec. 2. Subsections (d) to (g), inclusive, of section 10a-77 of the general 28
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 29
(Effective July 1, 2025): 30
(d) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition at any of 31
the regional community-technical colleges (1) for any dependent child 32
of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to 33
be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in 34
such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted 35
for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time 36
such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the 37
provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in 38
section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in 39
section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in 40
time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military 41
service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such 42
institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is 43
accepted for admission to such institution. Said board shall also waive 44
for any such veteran the payment of any extension fees under section 45
10a-26, as amended by this act, for educational extension programs, (3) 46
for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older, provided, at 47
the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the 48
course a sufficient number of students other than those residents eligible 49
for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which 50 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such 51
course after accommodating all such students, (4) for any student 52
attending the Connecticut State Police Academy who is enrolled in a law 53
enforcement program at said academy offered in coordination with a 54
regional community-technical college which accredits courses taken in 55
such program, (5) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or 56
Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General 57
or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of 58
the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to such 59
institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-60
granting program. Said board shall also waive for any such member the 61
payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26, as amended by this 62
act, for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child of 63
a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or 64
auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or 65
member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) 66
state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) 67
for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving 68
spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) 69
for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 70
multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 71
Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (9) for any resident of the state 72
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 73
killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 74
forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 75
a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 76
accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 77
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 78
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 79
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (5) of this 80
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 81
tuition waivers in registering for courses at regional community-82
technical colleges. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as 83
used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for 84
less than one year. 85 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 86
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 87
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the board of trustees shall waive the 88
payment of tuition and extension fees at any of the regional community-89
technical colleges for such veteran in accordance with subdivision (2) of 90
this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to said board that such 91
veteran's application for such federal educational assistance has been 92
denied or withdrawn, said board of trustees shall waive the payment of 93
tuition and extension fees in accordance with subsection (d) of this 94
section. 95
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 96
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 97
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to a regional 98
community-technical college on behalf of a veteran that represents 99
payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be calculated 100
by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal educational 101
assistance to be paid to a regional community-technical college on 102
behalf of such veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing (I) the sum 103
of the actual tuition and extension fees charged by such college to such 104
veteran by (II) the sum of the actual tuition, extension fees and other fees 105
charged by such college to such veteran. 106
(B) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and 107
extension fees in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at any of the 108
regional community-technical colleges for such veteran. 109
(f) Said board shall set aside from its anticipated regional community-110
technical college tuition revenue, an amount not less than that required 111
by said board's tuition policy. Such funds shall be used to provide 112
tuition waivers, tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and 113
student employment for residents enrolled in regional community-114
technical colleges as full or part-time matriculated students in a degree-115
granting program, or enrolled in a precollege remedial program, who 116
demonstrate substantial financial need. Said board may also set aside 117
from its anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to one 118 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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per cent of [said] such tuition revenue for financial assistance for 119
students who would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance 120
but who do have a financial need as determined by the college in 121
accordance with this subsection. In determining such financial need, the 122
college shall exclude the value of equity in the principal residence of the 123
student's parents or legal guardians, or in the student's principal 124
residence if the student is not considered to be a dependent of his 125
parents or legal guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent 126
student at the rate of thirty per cent. 127
(g) The Regional Community-Technical Colleges Operating Fund 128
shall be reimbursed for the amount by which the tuition and extension 129
fee waivers granted under subsection (d) of this section exceed five per 130
cent of tuition and extension fee revenue through an annual state 131
appropriation. The board of trustees shall request such an appropriation 132
and [said] such appropriation shall be based upon an estimate of tuition 133
and extension fee revenue loss using tuition and extension fee rates in 134
effect for the fiscal year in which such appropriation will apply. 135
Sec. 3. Subsections (d) to (g), inclusive, of section 10a-99 of the general 136
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 137
(Effective July 1, 2025): 138
(d) Said board shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 139
undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State 140
University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the 141
armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or 142
to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after 143
January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such 144
institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted 145
for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of 146
subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-147
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 148
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 149
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 150
which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and 151 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for 152
admission to such institution. Said board shall also waive for any such 153
veteran the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26, as 154
amended by this act, for educational extension programs, (3) for any 155
resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been 156
accepted for admission to such institution, provided (A) such resident 157
is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular 158
registration period, there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number 159
of students other than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to 160
this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to 161
enroll and there is space available in such course after accommodating 162
all such students, (4) for any student attending the Connecticut Police 163
Academy who is enrolled in a law enforcement program at said 164
academy offered in coordination with the university which accredits 165
courses taken in such program, (5) for any active member of the 166
Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by 167
the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member 168
in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for 169
admission to such institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an 170
undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program. Said board shall 171
also waive for any such member the payment of any extension fees 172
under section 10a-26, as amended by this act, for educational extension 173
programs, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined 174
in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) 175
firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire 176
company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in 177
section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state 178
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist 179
victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a 180
resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the 181
intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, 182
and (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or 183
surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing 184
active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or 185
after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state. If any 186 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions 187
of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an 188
employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such 189
educational reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National 190
Guard described in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be given the 191
same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for 192
courses at Connecticut state universities. Notwithstanding the 193
provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in 194
this state" includes domicile for less than one year. 195
(e) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (d) of this section has 196
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 197
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the board of trustees shall waive the 198
payment of tuition and extension fees at the Connecticut State 199
University System for such veteran in accordance with subdivision (2) 200
of this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to said board that such 201
veteran's application for such federal educational assistance has been 202
denied or withdrawn, said board of trustees shall waive the payment of 203
tuition and extension fees in accordance with subsection (d) of this 204
section. 205
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 206
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 207
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to the 208
Connecticut State University System on behalf of a veteran that 209
represents payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be 210
calculated by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal 211
educational assistance to be paid to the Connecticut State University 212
System on behalf of such veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing 213
(I) the sum of the actual tuition and extension fees charged by the 214
Connecticut State University System to such veteran by (II) the sum of 215
the actual tuition, extension fees and other fees charged by the 216
Connecticut State University System to such veteran. 217
(B) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and 218
extension fees in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at the Connecticut 219 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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State University System for such veteran. 220
(f) Said board shall set aside from its anticipated tuition revenue, an 221
amount not less than that required by the board of governors' tuition 222
policy established under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10a-223
6. Such funds shall be used to provide tuition waivers, tuition 224
remissions, grants for educational expenses and student employment 225
for any undergraduate or graduate student who is enrolled as a full or 226
part-time matriculated student in a degree-granting program, or 227
enrolled in a precollege remedial program, and who demonstrates 228
substantial financial need. Said board may also set aside from its 229
anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to one per cent 230
of [said] such tuition revenue for financial assistance for students who 231
would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance but who do have 232
a financial need as determined by the university in accordance with this 233
subsection. In determining such financial need, the university shall 234
exclude the value of equity in the principal residence of the student's 235
parents or legal guardians, or in the student's principal residence if the 236
student is not considered to be a dependent of his parents or legal 237
guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent student at the 238
rate of thirty per cent. 239
(g) The Connecticut State University System Operating Fund shall be 240
reimbursed for the amount by which the tuition and extension fee 241
waivers granted under subsection (d) of this section exceed two and 242
one-half per cent of tuition and extension fee revenue through an annual 243
state appropriation. The board of trustees shall request such an 244
appropriation and [said] such appropriation shall be based upon an 245
estimate of tuition and extension fee revenue loss using tuition and 246
extension fee rates in effect for the fiscal year in which such 247
appropriation will apply. 248
Sec. 4. Subsections (e) to (h), inclusive, of section 10a-105 of the 249
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 250
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 251 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for 252
any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of 253
Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed 254
forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have 255
been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 256
1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University 257
of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is 258
accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions 259
of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-260
103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, 261
except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall 262
not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, 263
which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is 264
domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission 265
to said institution. Said board shall also waive for any such veteran the 266
payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26, as amended by this 267
act, for educational extension programs, (3) for any resident of the state 268
sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to 269
said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-270
granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, 271
there are enrolled in the course a sufficient number of students other 272
than those residents eligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to 273
offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is 274
space available in such course after accommodating all such students, 275
(4) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National 276
Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such 277
Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, 278
and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-279
time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-280
granting program. Said board shall also waive for any such member the 281
payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26, as amended by this 282
act, for educational extension programs, (5) for any dependent child of 283
a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or 284
auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or 285
member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) 286 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) 287
for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving 288
spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) 289
for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a 290
multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and 291
Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state 292
who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was 293
killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed 294
forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was 295
a resident of this state. If any person who receives a tuition waiver in 296
accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives 297
educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be 298
reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement. Veterans 299
and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this 300
subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving 301
tuition waivers in registering for courses at The University of 302
Connecticut. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used 303
in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less 304
than one year. 305
(f) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (e) of this section has 306
applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans 307
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the board of trustees shall waive the 308
payment of tuition and extension fees at The University of Connecticut 309
for such veteran in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection. If 310
any such veteran certifies to said board that such veteran's application 311
for such federal educational assistance has been denied or withdrawn, 312
said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and extension 313
fees in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. 314
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 315
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 316
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to The 317
University of Connecticut on behalf of a veteran that represents 318
payment for tuition and extension fees. Such portion shall be calculated 319
by multiplying (i) the total amount of such federal educational 320 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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assistance to be paid to The University of Connecticut on behalf of such 321
veteran by (ii) an amount obtained by dividing (I) the sum of the actual 322
tuition and extension fees charged by The University of Connecticut to 323
such veteran by (II) the sum of the actual tuition, extension fees and 324
other fees charged by The University of Connecticut to such veteran. 325
(B) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition and 326
extension fees in excess of the veteran tuition benefit at The University 327
of Connecticut for such veteran. 328
(g) Said board of trustees shall set aside from its anticipated tuition 329
revenue, an amount not less than that required by the board of 330
governors' tuition policy established under subdivision (3) of subsection 331
(a) of section 10a-6. Such funds shall be used to provide tuition waivers, 332
tuition remissions, grants for educational expenses and student 333
employment for any undergraduate, graduate or professional student 334
who is enrolled as a full or part-time matriculated student in a degree-335
granting program, or enrolled in a precollege remedial program, and 336
who demonstrates substantial financial need. Said board may also set 337
aside from its anticipated tuition revenue an additional amount equal to 338
one per cent of [said] such tuition revenue for financial assistance for 339
students who would not otherwise be eligible for financial assistance 340
but who do have a financial need as determined by the university in 341
accordance with this subsection. In determining such financial need, the 342
university shall exclude the value of equity in the principal residence of 343
the student's parents or legal guardians, or in the student's principal 344
residence if the student is not considered to be a dependent of his 345
parents or legal guardians and shall assess the earnings of a dependent 346
student at the rate of thirty per cent. 347
(h) The University of Connecticut Operating Fund shall be 348
reimbursed for the amount by which tuition and extension fee waivers 349
granted under subsection (e) of this section exceed two and one-half per 350
cent of tuition and extension fee revenue through an annual state 351
appropriation. The board of trustees shall request such an appropriation 352
and [said] such appropriation shall be based upon an estimate of tuition 353 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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and extension fee revenue loss using tuition and extension fee rates in 354
effect for the fiscal year in which such appropriation will apply. 355
Sec. 5. Section 10a-143 of the general statutes is amended by adding 356
subsections (h) and (i) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 357
(NEW) (h) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive 358
the payment of course enrollment fees at Charter Oak State College (1) 359
subject to the provisions of subsection (i) of this section, for any veteran, 360
as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as 361
defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, 362
"service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a 363
military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for 364
admission to Charter Oak State College and is domiciled in this state at 365
the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution, and 366
(2) for any active member of the Connecticut Army or Air National 367
Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such 368
Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, 369
and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to Charter Oak State 370
College on a full-time or part-time basis in a degree-granting program. 371
If any such veteran or member of the National Guard who receives a 372
course enrollment fee waiver in accordance with the provisions of this 373
subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, 374
such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational 375
reimbursement. Veterans and members of the National Guard 376
described in this subsection shall be given the same status as students 377
not receiving course enrollment fee waivers in registering for courses at 378
Charter Oak State College. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 379
10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes 380
domicile for less than one year. 381
(NEW) (i) (1) If any veteran described in subsection (h) of this section 382
has applied for federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 383
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Board of Regents for 384
Higher Education shall waive the payment of course enrollment fees at 385
Charter Oak State College for such veteran in accordance with 386 Substitute Bill No. 6439
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subdivision (2) of this subsection. If any such veteran certifies to said 387
board of regents that such veteran's application for such federal 388
educational assistance has been denied or withdrawn, said board of 389
regents shall waive the payment of course enrollment fees in accordance 390
with subsection (h) of this section. 391
(2) (A) For purposes of this subdivision, "veteran tuition benefit" 392
means the portion of federal educational assistance under the Post-9/11 393
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to be paid to Charter Oak 394
State College on behalf of a veteran that represents payment for course 395
enrollment fees. Such portion shall be calculated by multiplying (i) the 396
total amount of such federal educational assistance to be paid to Charter 397
Oak State College on behalf of such veteran by (ii) an amount obtained 398
by dividing (I) the actual course enrollment fees charged by Charter Oak 399
State College to such veteran by (II) the sum of the actual course 400
enrollment fees and other fees charged by Charter Oak State College to 401
such veteran. 402
(B) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the 403
payment of course enrollment fees in excess of the veteran tuition 404
benefit at Charter Oak State College for such veteran. 405
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 10a-26
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10a-77(d) to (g)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 10a-99(d) to (g)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10a-105(e) to (h)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 10a-143(h) and (i)
VA Joint Favorable Subst.