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*sb0142*
SENATE BILL 142
F2, E4 6lr0283
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 232
By: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Military)
Requested: September 17, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 20, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Military Department – National Guard – Tuition Assistance 2
FOR the purpose of expanding the institutions and types of expenses in connection with 3
which tuition assistance may be provided for certain eligible Maryland National 4
Guard service members; and generally relating to tuition assistance for members of 5
the Maryland National Guard. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Public Safety 8
Section 13–405 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Public Safety 14
13–405. 15
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
(2) “Institution” means: 17
2 SENATE BILL 142
(i) any campus of the University System of Maryland, any 1
community college established under Title 16 of the Education Article, Morgan State 2
University, or St. Mary’s College; 3
(ii) any private institution of higher education that grants a member 4
a tuition waiver of at least 50%; 5
(iii) any public postsecondary vocational–technical or trade school; or 6
(iv) any private postsecondary vocational –technical [or trade school 7
that grants a member a tuition waiver of at least 50% ], TRADE, OR CAREER SCHOOL 8
RECOGNIZED BY THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION OR THE 9
MARYLAND APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING COUNCIL. 10
(3) “Member” means an individual who: 11
(i) is regularly enlisted in the National Guard; or 12
(ii) holds a commission in the National Guard. 13
(4) (I) “TRAINING ASSISTANCE ” MEANS EXPENSES DIREC TLY 14
RELATED TO PROFESSIO NAL DEVELOPMENT RESO URCES REQUIRED FOR 15
PARTICIPATION IN A COURSE OR PROGRAM AT AN INSTITUTION. 16
(II) “TRAINING ASSISTANCE” INCLUDES: 17
1. INDUSTRY–REQUIRED TOO LS, TECHNOLOGY, AND 18
PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT; 19
2. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS, 20
AND SPECIALIZED CLOTHING; 21
3. CERTIFICATION AND LI CENSING COSTS NECESS ARY 22
FOR EMPLOYMENT; AND 23
4. TRADE–RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 24
MATERIALS, SOFTWARE, AND DIGITAL RESOURCES. 25
(5) (i) “Tuition” means the basic instructional charge for 26
undergraduate, graduate, professional, vocational –technical, and trade school credit 27
courses and related fees at an institution. 28
(ii) “Tuition” does not include charges for self–supporting programs. 29
SENATE BILL 142 3
(b) (1) To the extent that funds are provided in the State budget, the 1
Department may provide assistance equal to 100% of the cost of in –State tuition AND 2
TRAINING ASSISTANCE for any regularly scheduled undergraduate credit course, 3
graduate credit course, professional credit course, vocational –technical course, or trade 4
course for any active member attending an institution who is certified as eligible by the 5
Adjutant General. 6
(2) Subject to paragraph (5) of this su bsection, a member who receives 7
assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection for an undergraduate credit, 8
vocational–technical, or trade OR CAREER course shall remain an active member for at 9
least 2 years following the completion of the course. 10
(3) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a member who receives 11
assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection for a graduate or professional credit 12
course shall remain an active member for at least 4 years following the completion of the 13
course. 14
(4) Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, if a member receives 15
assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and is a member of a unit that has been 16
disbanded on or after September 1, 2013, due to budgetary cuts, Base Realignment and 17
Closure, or any other reason, the member may satisfy the requirements of paragraph (2) or 18
paragraph (3) of this subsection by transferring to another active duty, reserve, or National 19
Guard Unit in the State or in another state. 20
(5) If a member who receives ass istance under paragraph (1) of this 21
subsection is offered early separation by the military following the disbanding of the 22
member’s unit due to budget cuts, Base Realignment and Closure, or any other reason, the 23
member is excused from the requirements of p aragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of this 24
subsection. 25
(c) (1) The Adjutant General may not certify a member as eligible unless the 26
member is: 27
(i) enlisted and has at least 24 months remaining to serve on the 28
current enlistment of the member; or 29
(ii) an officer or warrant officer and agrees in writing to serve for a 30
minimum of 24 months. 31
(2) The 24–month requirement runs from the first day of classes for the 32
semester. 33
(d) If a recipient of tuition assistance under this section is discharged from t he 34
National Guard for a reason designated by the Adjutant General, the assistance terminates 35
and the member shall reimburse the Department the amount of tuition assistance received 36
for that semester within 30 days of discharge. 37
4 SENATE BILL 142
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.