Veterans (Veteran Education)

signed · Arizona · House Jun 13, 2026

HB 4161: higher education; 2026-2027

This bill updates the administrative powers of the Arizona Board of Regents to govern the state's public universities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the board to set tuition and fees based on student residency and enrollment status, while establishing a separate fund for tuition revenue that cannot be used to support alumni associations. The legislation also mandates public hearings and roll call votes for any tuition increases, ensures guaranteed admission for veterans, and requires the board to submit annual budget requests that include projected tuition revenue.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill updates governance and mandates guaranteed admission for veterans, expanding access to higher education.80% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates guaranteed admission for veterans, directly strengthening their access to higher education.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Education

introduced · Arizona · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 4054: veterans' reinvestment fund; appropriation

HB 4054 establishes Arizona's Veterans' Reinvestment Fund to provide dedicated funding for veteran services. It appropriates $51.8 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 (plus 31 full-time positions) to be managed by the state treasurer in consultation with the Department of Veterans' Services. Each year, 50% of the fund's monies must be distributed to the department for programs supporting veterans in five key areas: education/training, jobs/economic opportunities, health/wellness, mental health/substance abuse services, and housing. The fund's resources are exempt from standard appropriation lapsing rules, ensuring consistent annual funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $51.8M from state general fund for veteran services, increasing public spending on essential programs like education and health.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly allocates 50% of $51.8M fund to veteran health programs, directly funding healthcare services for veterans as one of five key areas.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes $51.8M Veterans' Reinvestment Fund with dedicated funding for veteran programs including healthcare, education, and jobs per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Mental Health Substance Abuse Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Housing

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failed · Arizona · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1803: veterans' benefits; claims; prohibition

SB 1803 restricts who can assist veterans with benefits claims in Arizona. It requires anyone acting as an agent or attorney for veterans' benefits to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), while imposing strict rules on non-accredited advisors. These rules include mandatory written agreements with 3-day cancellation periods, clear disclosures that the business isn’t VA-accredited, bans on guaranteeing outcomes or charging upfront fees, and a fee cap of five times the veteran’s monthly benefit increase. The bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits and non-VA-accredited advisors, aiming to prevent deceptive practices while protecting veterans from unscrupulous fee structures.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill protects veterans from fraud by requiring VA accreditation and banning deceptive practices in benefits claims assistance, aligning with protective support for veterans.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1809: national guard; education; reimbursement

SB 1809 amends Arizona law to require the Adjutant General to include specific details about the National Guard's postsecondary education reimbursement program in their annual fiscal report to the governor and legislature. This bill directly affects Arizona National Guard members who participate in the education reimbursement program, as it mandates clearer reporting on the program's administration. The key provision modifies Section 26-102 to specify that the annual report must include a detailed statement of the program's status under Section 26-181, subsection D. F. This is a procedural change focused on transparency, not creating new benefits or altering the reimbursement program itself.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates detailed reporting for National Guard education reimbursement program, ensuring transparency and proper administration of veteran benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve Veteran Education

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in committee · Arizona · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2245: veterans claims pilot program

HB 2245 establishes a two-year pilot program in Arizona to test a digital system that helps veterans' service offices prepare complete disability claims for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The program integrates with existing state veteran benefits counselors, county offices, and tribal programs, using a technology system to analyze medical and service records, identify supportable conditions, and create fully developed claim packets for submission. It requires comparing results between offices using the technology and a control group, measuring outcomes like claim preparation time, first-time approval rates, and veteran satisfaction. The program, running until 2027, aims to evaluate if this approach improves claim efficiency without replacing human counselors or altering veterans' access to traditional support.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes digital system to streamline VA claims processing, ensuring complete packets for faster benefits access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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introduced · Arizona · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2618: veterans; scholarship waivers; counseling; benefits

HB 2618 provides tuition waivers at Arizona public universities and community colleges for children or spouses of Arizona Gold Star Military Medal recipients who were killed or died from injuries in the line of duty while stationed in Arizona, limited to those under age 26. It also mandates trauma counseling for family members of deceased service members and Gold Star recipients for at least 10 years. The bill establishes a Fallen Guard Family Relief Fund to offer benefits like burial supplements, emergency aid, tuition reimbursements, and mental health services to immediate family members of Gold Star recipients. The Department of Veterans' Services will verify eligibility and coordinate these benefits under amended statutes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers at Arizona public universities for military families, expanding access to higher education through financial aid.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 10-year trauma counseling for military families, directly supporting mental health services as a core component of the bill.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition waivers, trauma counseling, and burial benefits for Gold Star families - directly expands veteran family support through new funding and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Mental Health Veteran Education Veteran Mental Health

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passed both · Arizona · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 1413: technical correction; veterans; tuition deferment

SB 1413 amends Arizona law to clarify and update the existing veterans' tuition deferment program. It allows eligible veterans to defer payment for tuition, fees, and required books/materials for up to 120 days while awaiting federal VA education benefits, requiring only a no-interest promissory note. If VA benefits haven't arrived by the 120-day deadline, the deferment may be extended until benefits are received. Colleges may withhold grades or transfer credits until the deferred amount is paid. This bill directly affects veterans enrolled in Arizona state colleges or universities who are waiting for VA benefit disbursements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies veterans' tuition deferment, enabling access to higher education by deferring payments until VA benefits arrive, expanding access for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransClarifies veterans' tuition deferment program, allowing 120-day deferment (extendable) while awaiting VA benefits, reducing financial burden on veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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in committee · Arizona · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 2240: tuition waiver; children; veterans; disabilities

HB 2240 provides tuition waiver scholarships at Arizona public universities and community colleges for specific groups. It directly affects: (1) children under 30 or unmarried spouses of peace officers, firefighters, correctional officers, or military personnel who died in the line of duty from PTSD-related injuries or suicide (with documented evidence); (2) Purple Heart recipients with a 50%+ VA disability rating who are Arizona residents or stationed in Arizona. The bill requires verification by state boards (like the Veterans' Services Department) and limits scholarships to 64 community college credits or a bachelor’s degree’s credit equivalent. It expands existing tuition waiver programs to include these new eligibility categories while maintaining strict documentation requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state budget funds for tuition waivers, directly increasing public education spending for specified groups.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tuition waivers for higher education at Arizona public universities/community colleges, expanding access for veterans' families and disabled Purple Heart recipients.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition waivers for Purple Heart recipients (veterans) with 50%+ VA disability, expanding educational benefits for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Education Veteran Mental Health

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signed · Arizona · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2792: property tax; exemption; veterans

HB 2792 creates property tax exemptions for Arizona veterans with disabilities and certain other groups. Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating get full exemption on their primary residence, while those with lower ratings (service or non-service connected) receive a partial exemption capped at $4,188, adjusted by their disability percentage. Widows, widowers, and people with total permanent disabilities also qualify for a $4,188 exemption, subject to income limits of $34,901-$41,870 depending on household size. The exemption amounts and income thresholds automatically adjust annually based on inflation metrics. This bill directly affects eligible veterans, their surviving spouses, and qualifying widows/widowers by reducing their property tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax exemptions for veterans with disabilities, reducing tax liability for qualifying groups and aligning with tax relief as a supportive fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax exemption on primary residences for veterans with disabilities, reducing housing costs and supporting affordability for eligible homeowners.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides property tax exemptions for veterans with disabilities, expanding financial benefits through full/partial exemptions and income-qualified caps.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

introduced · Arizona · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2616: tuition waivers; ABOR; community colleges

HB 2616 establishes the Ernest McFarland Act tuition waiver scholarship program, providing tuition coverage at Arizona universities and community colleges for veterans and military-connected families. It directly affects veterans discharged honorably after 180+ days of active duty, spouses/children of service members killed in action or with service-connected disabilities, and military family members with permanent disabilities. The program covers tuition costs for eligible students who qualify as in-state residents, with a limit of 150 total credit hours across all programs. The Arizona Board of Regents administers the program, sets credit hour limits based on degree programs, and allows hardship exceptions for academic progress requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers for veterans' families at colleges, expanding educational access and funding for higher education through direct financial support.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes tuition waiver scholarship for veterans and military families, covering tuition costs for eligible veterans and dependents, directly expanding educational benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Military Families Veteran Education

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