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Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on which postsecondary institutions are eligible.

Helping Heroes Act for Veterans

This act amends Tennessee's financial aid rules for veterans by expanding eligibility criteria for medals and allowing them to pursue certificates as well as degrees.

What This Bill Does

• Expands the list of medals that make a veteran eligible for the Helping Heroes grant to include any medal authorized by Congress for combat or heroism.
• Allows veterans to apply for the grant if they are seeking a certificate, not just an associate or bachelor's degree.
• Updates the state law to reflect these changes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Veterans in Tennessee who want financial aid for education.
• Postsecondary institutions that offer eligible programs.

Terms To Know

Helping Heroes grant

A type of financial aid given to veterans in Tennessee to help them pay for college or other postsecondary education.

Eligible program

An educational course at a school that is approved by the state for veterans to use their Helping Heroes grant on.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify which postsecondary institutions are eligible.
• It's unclear how many veterans will be affected by these changes.
• The act takes effect in July 2025, so there is a delay before it applies to the academic year.

Official Summary Text

The "Helping Heroes Act of 2008" establishes a grant to support veterans in this state to pursue postsecondary education. Present
law provides that to be eligible for this grant, v
eterans must have received an honorable discharge, be
a
resident
of this state
, have b
e
e
n
awarded specific military medals
, be
enroll
ed
in an eligible program at a postsecondary institution
seeking an assoc
iate or baccalaureate degree
and take at least six semester hours
, and have not received a baccalaureate degree.

This bill provides that any medal authorized by congress for the armed forces of the United States that is awarded to a member of the armed
forces for combat or heroism, meets the medal requirement of the grant. This bill additionally provides that in addition to seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree, an applicant for this grant can, instead, seek a certificate. However, this bill pr
o
vides that the applicant must not have received a certificate before such application.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 1188
By Akbari

SB1188
002783
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 4, relative to financial aid for veterans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-938(c)(3), is amended by
adding the following as a new subdivision:
(E) Any other medal authorized by congress for the armed forces of the United
States that is awarded to a member of the armed forces for combat or heroism;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-4-938(c), is amended by deleting
subdivisions (5) and (6) and substituting instead the following:
(5) Be admitted to, and enrolled in, an eligible program of study at an eligible
postsecondary institution seeking a certificate or associate or baccalaureate degree;
(6) Have not received a certificate or baccalaureate degree; and
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to the 2025-2026 academic year and each academic year thereafter.