Virginia lawmakers agree to pass VMSDEP-related bill repealing previous changes

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia lawmakers agreed to come together to right what many considered to be an egregious wrong concerning many military families — they came to a consensus to allow a military tuition assistance program to return to operate as it once had for years.

The 2024 fiscal year budget process changed the rules of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, making it tougher for qualified military dependents to get tuition assistance.

However, on Tuesday July 2, both houses of the General Assembly agreed to repeal those controversial changes. Lawmakers say they are finally changing the program back to the way it used to be.

Delegate Luke Torian is the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and is a co-author of the bill. He was intimately involved in the process and provided new insight and reaction to the changes.

Torian and other lawmakers will be voting on new legislation regarding the Virginia military survivors and dependents program in July.

“Obviously, we as lawmakers, we go back, and we look at what has been done. We have received the comments and the public and see where the adjustments need to be made,” Torian said.

In May 2024, lawmakers made changes to the program as part of the budget process, thus making it more difficult for families to obtain tuition waivers. Some of the language in the new rule even stipulating that some students apply for alternate assistance before being eligible for the military benefit. However, the backlash surrounding that decision to make the change was fierce.

Both the House and Senate held special sessions; the House approved a bi-partisan bill to repeal the changes, which stalled in the Senate. But now, after much political back and forth, leaders in both houses have reached an agreement on identical legislation releasing a joint statement saying, in part:

“The legislation will fully repeal the changes to VMSDEP and related tuition waivers and will provide an additional $90 million from the FY 2024 surplus to offset costs of the program.”

The chairmen said that when the repeal is finally approved there will be no surprises for military families.

“No, it’s just getting back to the original language and the reasonable opportunities of the program,” the chairmen said

Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement on X, “The repeal is great news for our military heroes.”

“I think what you will see on July 18, when the House and Senate comes back in the session, the bills that have been authored by myself and Lucas are identical, and I expect the House bill to pass unanimously in the Senate bill, likewise,” Torian said.

The House and the Senate will return to Richmond on Thursday, July 18, to vote on the full repeal.

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