Back to Oregon

HB3920 • 2025

Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students.

Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students.

Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Tran,, Skarlatos, Representative Boice,, Bowman,, Chaichi,, Hudson,, Wright,, Senator Manning Jr,, Meek,, Pham,, Smith DB,, Thatcher
Last action
2025-06-11
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students.

Digest: The Act says that certain students may receive free tuition.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: The Act says that certain students may receive free tuition.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 78.2).
  • Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students.
  • Permits a qualified student to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree notwithstanding whether the qualified student received a waiver for a baccalaureate degree.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-11 House

    Chapter 100, (2025 Laws): effective on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

  2. 2025-05-19 House

    Governor signed.

  3. 2025-05-14 Senate

    President signed.

  4. 2025-05-13 House

    Speaker signed.

  5. 2025-05-12 Senate

    Third reading. Carried by Pham. Passed. Ayes, 29; Excused, 1--Starr.

  6. 2025-05-08 Senate

    Carried over to 05-12 by unanimous consent.

  7. 2025-05-07 Senate

    Carried over to 05-08 by unanimous consent.

  8. 2025-05-06 Senate

    Recommendation: Do pass.

  9. 2025-05-06 Senate

    Second reading.

  10. 2025-04-29 Senate

    Work Session held.

  11. 2025-04-22 Senate

    Public Hearing held.

  12. 2025-04-14 Senate

    First reading. Referred to President's desk.

  13. 2025-04-14 Senate

    Referred to Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs.

  14. 2025-04-10 House

    Third reading. Carried by Tran. Passed. Ayes, 50; Excused, 9--Cate, Evans, Helm, McIntire, Nguyen H, Owens, Reschke, Wallan, Walters; Excused for Business of the House, 1--Levy E.

  15. 2025-04-09 House

    Rules suspended. Carried over to April 10, 2025 Calendar.

  16. 2025-04-08 House

    Rules suspended. Carried over to April 9, 2025 Calendar.

  17. 2025-04-07 House

    Second reading.

  18. 2025-04-04 House

    Recommendation: Do pass.

  19. 2025-04-01 House

    Work Session held.

  20. 2025-03-25 House

    Public Hearing held.

  21. 2025-03-14 House

    Referred to Higher Education and Workforce Development.

  22. 2025-03-13 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act says that certain students may receive free tuition. (Flesch Readability Score: 78.2).
Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students. Permits a qualified student to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree notwithstanding whether the qualified student received a waiver for a baccalaureate degree. Removes the requirement that a qualified student apply for a master's degree within 12 months of receiving a baccalaureate degree to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree. Permits a qualified student to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree if the student presents proof of eligibility for specified federal assistance.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Relating to: Relating to waiver of tuition for certain qualified students; and prescribing an effective date.
Current location: Chapter Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 3920
Sponsored by Representatives TRAN, SKARLATOS; Representatives BOICE, BOWMAN, CHAICHI,
HUDSON, WRIGHT, Senators MANNING JR, MEEK, PHAM K, SMITH DB, THATCHER
CHAPTER .................................................
AN ACT
Relating to waiver of tuition for certain qualified students; amending ORS 350.285; and prescribing
an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 350.285 is amended to read:
350.285. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Child” means a child, adopted child or stepchild of either a service member or a Purple
Heart recipient.
(b) “Eligible post-secondary institution” means:
(A) A public university listed in ORS 352.002; and
(B) The Oregon Health and Science University.
(c) “Purple Heart recipient” means a person, alive or deceased, who:
(A) Was relieved or discharged from service in the Armed Forces of the United States with ei-
ther an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions; and
(B) Was awarded the Purple Heart in 2001 or thereafter for wounds received in combat.
(d) “Qualified student” means a child, a spouse or an unremarried surviving spouse of a service
member or a child of a Purple Heart recipient.
(e) “Service member” means a person who:
(A) As a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, died on active duty;
(B) As a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, died as a result of a military service
connected disability; or
(C) Is 100 percent disabled as the result of a military service connected disability, as certified
by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the Armed Forces of the
United States.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) to (7) of this section, an eligible post-secondary institution shall
waive tuition for a qualified student for courses that may lead to a baccalaureate degree or a
master’s degree. Notwithstanding whether a qualified student [ who] received a tuition waiver for
a baccalaureate degree , the qualified student may [ also] qualify for a tuition waiver for a master’s
degree.
(3)(a) The maximum waiver granted under this section shall be as follows:
(A) For a baccalaureate degree, the total number of credit hours that equals four years of full-
time attendance at an eligible post-secondary institution.
(B) For a master’s degree, the total number of credit hours that equals two years of full-time
attendance at an eligible post-secondary institution.
Enrolled House Bill 3920 (HB 3920-INTRO) Page 1
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, a waiver may not exceed the total number
of credit hours the qualified student needs to graduate with a baccalaureate degree or a master’s
degree.
(4) A waiver may be granted under this section only for credit hours for courses that are offered
by an eligible post-secondary institution and are available for enrollment.
(5) A qualified student may receive a waiver under this section if the student:
(a) At the time of application for a waiver, is considered a resident of this state for the purpose
of determining tuition to be paid at an eligible post-secondary institution; and
(b) Has been admitted to an eligible post-secondary institution for a baccalaureate degree pro-
gram or has been admitted to a master’s degree program at an eligible post-secondary institution.
(6)(a) A child who applies for a waiver under this section must be [ 23] 31 years of age or
younger at the time the child applies for a waiver.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, a child who is older than [ 23] 31 years of
age is eligible for a waiver for a master’s degree if the child:
(A) Applied for and received a waiver for a baccalaureate degree when the child was [ 23] 31
years of age or younger; [ and] or
[(B) Applied for a waiver for a master’s degree within 12 months of receiving a baccalaureate de-
gree.]
(B) Provides proof of eligibility for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assist-
ance program administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs under 38
U.S.C. chapter 35.
(7)(a) The amount of tuition waived under this section may be reduced by the amount of any
federal aid scholarships or grants, awards from the Oregon Opportunity Grant program established
under ORS 348.205, or any other aid from the eligible post-secondary institution, received by the
qualified student.
(b) The amount of tuition waived under this section may not be reduced by the amount of any
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 paid to a qualified
student.
SECTION 2.
This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
Enrolled House Bill 3920 (HB 3920-INTRO) Page 2
Passed by House April 10, 2025
..................................................................................
Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
..................................................................................
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Passed by Senate May 12, 2025
..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Received by Governor:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
Approved:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tina Kotek, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 3920 (HB 3920-INTRO) Page 3