S.B. No. 1338 proposes amendments to the Education Code regarding tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for the siblings of certain military personnel. The bill expands the eligibility for exemptions to include siblings of military members who have been killed in action, died while in service, are missing in action, or have become totally and permanently disabled due to service-related injuries. Additionally, it stipulates that a sibling can qualify for the exemption only if the military member does not have a spouse or child.

The bill also modifies the existing language concerning residency requirements for qualifying individuals, specifying that the spouse, child, or sibling must be classified as a resident at the time of registration. The changes will take effect starting with the tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any charges prior to that will be governed by the previous law. The bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.341 (Education Code 54)