Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
CHILDREN OF VETERANS TUITION GRANT ELIGIBILITY
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 5175 as reported from committee Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Amos O’Neal http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Higher Education
Complete to 12-13-24
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5175 would amend the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Act to newly allow a
student who was convicted of a felony involving an assault, physical injury, or death to be
eligible for a grant under the program created in the act. Such a conviction now disqualifies a
student from being eligible.
In addition, Executive Order 2010-2 transferred oversight of the program created by the act
from the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority to the Michigan Finance Authority
(MFA), and the bill would also amend the act to reflect this reorganization. 1
MCL 390.1342 and 390.1344
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 5175 would increase costs by a slight yet indeterminate amount due to elimination
of the felony restriction on the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant program. For FY 2021-22,
the most recent year with full data, 404 students were awarded program funding. While the
number of potential students who would become newly eligible with the proposed change is
not known, student estimates would be on the lower end of the spectrum. As an example, 20
additional students would result in a program cost of approximately $56,000, which would be
within the program’s current appropriation levels. Children of Veterans Tuition Grants have a
$2,800 award level for FY 2023-24.
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the following entities testified in support of the bill (10-25-23):
• Department of Corrections
• Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities
• Calvin Prison Initiative
• Siena Heights University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Nation Outside
• Hope-Western Prison Education Program
The following entities indicated support for the bill:
• Western Michigan University (10-25-23)
1
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-12-194
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 • Grand Valley State University (10-25-23)
• Lake Superior State University (10-25-23)
• Michigan College Access Network (10-25-23)
• Detroit Regional Chamber (10-25-23)
• Hope Network (10-25-23)
• Safe and Just Michigan (10-25-23)
• Michigan Adult Center for College Success (10-25-23)
• Grand Rapids Community College (12-4-24)
• Michigan Independent Colleges (12-4-24)
Legislative Analyst: Josh Roesner
Fiscal Analyst: Perry Zielak
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HB 5175 as reported Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 390.1342, 390.1344
As Passed by the House: 390.1342, 390.1344