Armed forces reserve grant

AN ACT Relating to creating the armed forces reserve 1
postsecondary education grant; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B 2
RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply 5
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 6
otherwise.7
(1) "Dependent" means a person enrolled as a dependent in the 8
defense enrollment eligibility reporting system. 9
(2) "Eligible student" means a reservist of the armed forces 10
reserve domiciled or stationed in Washington state or the spouse or 11
dependent of, also domiciled in Washington state, and designated by, 12
a reservist who agrees to fulfill his or her service obligation and 13
meets any additional selection criteria adopted by the office and all 14
of the following participation requirements: 15
(a) Is enrolled in courses or a program that lead to a 16
postsecondary degree or certificate at an institution of higher 17
education located in the state and accredited by the Northwest 18
association of schools and colleges, or an institution that is 19
located in the state that provides approved training under the 20
Montgomery GI Bill; 21
H-2710.1
HOUSE BILL 2443
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representative Dufault
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 2443
(b) Is an active drilling reservist, or the spouse or dependent 1
of, and designated by, an active drilling reservist. The reservist 2
must be in good standing in the armed forces reserve stationed in 3
Washington state as specified in rules adopted by the office for 4
implementation of the grant; 5
(c) Has completed and submitted an application for student aid 6
approved by the office; and 7
(d) Is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012.8
(3) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" or "forgiveness" means either to 9
render service in the armed forces reserve in lieu of monetary 10
repayment, or to be relieved of the service obligation under rules 11
adopted by the office. 12
(4) "Grant" means the armed forces reserve postsecondary 13
education grant established in section 2 of this act.14
(5) "Maximum benefit" means the maximum grant a reservist and the 15
reservist's spouse and dependents are eligible to receive.16
(6) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance 17
created in RCW 28B.76.090. 18
(7) "Participant" means an eligible student who has received a 19
grant under this chapter. 20
(8) "Reservist" means a member of the armed forces reserve 21
stationed in Washington state who has received, or whose spouse or 22
dependent has received, a grant under this chapter.23
(9) "Service obligation" means an obligation by the reservist to 24
serve in the armed forces reserve for a time period of at least one 25
year of service in the armed forces reserve for each year the 26
participant receives a grant. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Subject to amounts appropriated for this 28
specific purpose, the armed forces reserve postsecondary education 29
grant program is established. The office shall administer the 30
program. In administering the program, the powers and duties of the 31
office include:32
(1) With the assistance of the Washington military department, 33
the selection of eligible students to receive the grant as follows:34
(a) An eligible student may receive a grant under this section to 35
help pay for postsecondary education program costs as approved by the 36
office. Grants may not: 37
(i) Exceed the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW 38
28B.92.030, plus $500 for books and supplies; 39
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(ii) Exceed the participant's cost of attendance, when combined 1
with all other public and private grants, scholarships, and waiver 2
assistance the participant receives; or 3
(iii) Result in reduction of a participant's federal or other 4
state financial aid; 5
(b) The Washington military department shall ensure that data 6
needed to identify eligible students is promptly transmitted to the 7
office; 8
(c) The annual amount of each grant may vary, but may not exceed 9
the annual cost of undergraduate tuition fees and services and 10
activities fees at the University of Washington, plus an allowance 11
for books and supplies; 12
(d) The maximum benefit a single reservist, or a combination of 13
the reservist and the reservist's designated spouse or dependents, 14
may receive may not extend beyond six full-time years, or the credit 15
or clock-hour equivalent; 16
(2) The award of grants funded by federal and state funds, 17
private donations, or repayments from any participant who does not 18
complete the participant's service obligation; 19
(3) The adoption of necessary rules and policies, including 20
establishing a priority for eligible students attending an 21
institution of higher education located in this state that is 22
accredited by the Northwest association of schools and colleges;23
(4) The adoption of participant selection criteria. The criteria 24
may include, but need not be limited to, requirements for: 25
Satisfactory academic progress, enrollment in courses or programs 26
that lead to a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree or a 27
certificate, and satisfactory participation as a reservist in the 28
armed forces reserve; 29
(5) With the assistance of the Washington military department, 30
the notification of reservists of their additional service obligation 31
or required repayment of the grant; and 32
(6) The collection of repayments from reservists who do not meet 33
the service obligations. 34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Reservists incur an obligation to 35
repay the grant, with interest, unless they serve in the armed forces 36
reserve for one year for each year they or their spouse or dependent 37
received the grant, under rules adopted by the office.38
p. 3 HB 2443
(2) The office shall adopt rules addressing the terms for 1
repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, deferments, and 2
appeals, by a reservist who does not render service as a reservist in 3
the armed forces reserve necessary to satisfy his or her service 4
obligation. 5
(3) The office is responsible for collection of repayments made 6
under this section. The office shall exercise due diligence in such 7
collection, maintaining all necessary records to ensure that maximum 8
repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under 9
this section must be pursued using the full extent of law, including 10
wage garnishment if necessary. The office is responsible to forgive 11
all or parts of such repayments under the criteria established in 12
this section, and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven 13
payments. 14
(4) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest paid by or 15
on behalf of participants must be deposited with the office and must 16
be used to cover the costs of administration of the grant, 17
maintaining necessary records, and making collections under 18
subsection (3) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate 19
records of these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to 20
pay such costs must be used to make grant awards to eligible 21
students. 22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A reservist and the reservist's designated 23
spouse and dependents may simultaneously use the grant, subject to 24
any rules adopted by the office, and the limitation on the maximum 25
benefit.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 27
constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.28
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