Maryland2026Enacted
HB0003
Maryland Fallen Heroes Tuition Benefits Act
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law exempts spouses and financially dependent children of state or local public safety employees who die in the line of duty from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at Maryland public colleges.
What it does
- Exempts eligible family members from higher non-resident tuition rates at Maryland public institutions of higher education.
- Defines which jobs count as state or local public safety employment for this benefit.
- Requires the Higher Education Commission to create rules to implement this law.
- Changes how funds are allocated between two existing scholarship programs.
Who it affects
- Spouses and financially dependent children of firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, ambulance workers, rescue squad members, or Maryland National Guard soldiers who die while working.
- Public colleges and universities in Maryland that must apply the tuition exemption.
- The Higher Education Commission responsible for writing new rules.
Limits and unknowns
- Specific rules for applying and proving eligibility are still being written by the Higher Education Commission.
- The law does not specify if there is a limit on the number of people who can receive this benefit or how much money will be available.
Plain language
Terms to know
- State or local public safety employee
- A person employed as a career or volunteer firefighter, ambulance worker, rescue squad member, law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or Maryland National Guard soldier who was a resident of the state at the time of death.
- Out-of-state tuition
- The higher price for college classes charged to students who do not live in the same state as the school.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Exempting spouses and financially dependent children of State or local public safety employees who die as a result of or in the course of performance of duties from paying out-of-state or out-of-county tuition at a public institution of higher education in the State; and altering the method for allocating funds for the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program and the Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program.
Official activity
Bill history
- Approved by the Governor - Chapter 798