Researcher: MHF Page 1 3/26/25
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6439
AN ACT CONCERNING A FEE WAIVER AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the higher education tuition waiver program to
cover certain extension fees for eligible National Guard members and
veterans with wartime service (see BACKGROUND).
It requires the regional community-technical colleges, the
Connecticut State University System, and UConn to waive fees for
educational extension programs, including for courses taken during
summer and winter school sessions or intersessions. Current law
requires these institutions to waive eligible veterans’ and National
Guard members’ tuition, which does not include these fees.
The bill makes various conforming changes, including incorporating
these extension fee waivers into the calculation of waiver amounts that
the state must annually reimburse to these institutions’ operating funds
through an appropriation. Under current law, the reimbursement
amount is based only on tuition waivers.
The bill also establishes a course enrollment fee waiver for eligible
National Guard members and veterans with wartime service who
attend Charter Oak State College, with generally the same eligibility
requirements as the tuition waiver program. Charter Oak State College
no longer charges course enrollment fees and instead charges tuition per
credit, among other fees. (It is unclear whether the bill’s course
enrollment fee waiver requirement would extend to tuition and these
other fees.)
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2025 2025HB-06439-R000257-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 3/26/25
BACKGROUND
Veterans’ Service in Time of War
By law, to be eligible for state benefits (including tuition waivers) that
require service in a time of war, a veteran must generally have served at
least 90 cumulative days during a statutorily defined period of war,
which are described in the table below. A veteran who served fewer
days may qualify if he or she (1) was separated from service earlier
because of either a service-connected U.S. Veterans’ Administration-
rated disability or an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
or (2) served for the duration of a period of war that lasted fewer than
90 days (CGS § 27-103(a)(3)).
The table below shows post-1940 periods of war and service
conditions for purposes of veterans’ benefits (CGS § 27-103(a)(4)).
Table: Post-1940 “Periods of War”
Operation Covered Period Service Condition
World War II 12/7/41—12/31/46* Active service during the covered period
Korean conflict 6/27/50—1/31/55 Active service during the covered period
Lebanon conflict
7/1/58—11/1/58 or
9/29/82—3/30/84
Combat or combat-support role in
Lebanon during the covered periods
Vietnam era 2/28/61—7/1/75 Active service during the covered period
Grenada invasion 10/25/83—12/15/83
Combat or combat-support role in
Grenada during the covered period
Operation Earnest Will
(escort of Kuwaiti
tankers flying U.S. flag
in the Persian Gulf)
7/24/87—8/1/90
Combat or combat-support role in the
operation during the covered period
Panama invasion 12/20/89—1/31/90
Combat or combat-support role in the
invasion during the covered period
Persian Gulf War
8/2/90 until a date
prescribed by the
President or law
Active service during the covered period
Afghanistan 10/24/01—8/30/21 Active service during the covered period
Iraq
3/19/03—12/31/11 or
6/1/14—12/9/21
Active service during the covered period
*For certain property tax exemptions, the end date is considered 12/31/47 (CGS § 12-86).
Related Bill
SB 376, reported favorably by the Veterans’ and Military Affairs 2025HB-06439-R000257-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 3 3/26/25
Committee, eliminates service in time of war as an eligibility
requirement for, among other things, veterans’ tuition waivers.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/11/2025)