HB 2443

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.
1      AN  ACT  Relating   to   creating  the  armed   forces  reserve
2 postsecondary education grant; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B
3 RCW.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5     NEW SECTION.    Sec. 1.    The definitions in this section apply
6 throughout   this   chapter  unless  the   context  clearly  requires
7 otherwise.
8     (1) "Dependent" means a person enrolled as a dependent in the
9 defense enrollment eligibility reporting system.
10     (2) "Eligible student" means a reservist of the armed forces
11 reserve domiciled or stationed in Washington state or the spouse or
12 dependent of, also domiciled in Washington state, and designated by,
13 a reservist who agrees to fulfill his or her service obligation and
14 meets any additional selection criteria adopted by the office and all
15 of the following participation requirements:
16     (a) Is enrolled in courses or a program that lead to a
17 postsecondary degree or certificate at an institution of higher
18 education located in the state and accredited by the Northwest
19 association of schools and colleges, or an institution that is
20 located in the state that provides approved training under the
21 Montgomery GI Bill;
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1     (b) Is an active drilling reservist, or the spouse or dependent
2 of, and designated by, an active drilling reservist. The reservist
3 must be in good standing in the armed forces reserve stationed in
4 Washington state as specified in rules adopted by the office for
5 implementation of the grant;
6     (c) Has completed and submitted an application for student aid
7 approved by the office; and
8     (d) Is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012.
9     (3) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" or "forgiveness" means either to
10 render service in the armed forces reserve in lieu of monetary
11 repayment, or to be relieved of the service obligation under rules
12 adopted by the office.
13     (4) "Grant" means the armed forces reserve postsecondary
14 education grant established in section 2 of this act.
15     (5) "Maximum benefit" means the maximum grant a reservist and the
16 reservist's spouse and dependents are eligible to receive.
17     (6) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance
18 created in RCW 28B.76.090.
19     (7) "Participant" means an eligible student who has received a
20 grant under this chapter.
21     (8) "Reservist" means a member of the armed forces reserve
22 stationed in Washington state who has received, or whose spouse or
23 dependent has received, a grant under this chapter.
24     (9) "Service obligation" means an obligation by the reservist to
25 serve in the armed forces reserve for a time period of at least one
26 year of service in the armed forces reserve for each year the
27 participant receives a grant.
28     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 2.   Subject to amounts appropriated for this
29 specific purpose, the armed forces reserve postsecondary education
30 grant program is established. The office shall administer the
31 program. In administering the program, the powers and duties of the
32 office include:
33     (1) With the assistance of the Washington military department,
34 the selection of eligible students to receive the grant as follows:
35     (a) An eligible student may receive a grant under this section to
36 help pay for postsecondary education program costs as approved by the
37 office. Grants may not:
38     (i) Exceed the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW
39 28B.92.030, plus $500 for books and supplies;
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1     (ii) Exceed the participant's cost of attendance, when combined
2 with all other public and private grants, scholarships, and waiver
3 assistance the participant receives; or
4     (iii) Result in reduction of a participant's federal or other
5 state financial aid;
6     (b) The Washington military department shall ensure that data
7 needed to identify eligible students is promptly transmitted to the
8 office;
9     (c) The annual amount of each grant may vary, but may not exceed
10 the annual cost of undergraduate tuition fees and services and
11 activities fees at the University of Washington, plus an allowance
12 for books and supplies;
13     (d) The maximum benefit a single reservist, or a combination of
14 the reservist and the reservist's designated spouse or dependents,
15 may receive may not extend beyond six full-time years, or the credit
16 or clock-hour equivalent;
17     (2) The award of grants funded by federal and state funds,
18 private donations, or repayments from any participant who does not
19 complete the participant's service obligation;
20     (3) The adoption of necessary rules and policies, including
21 establishing   a  priority   for   eligible  students   attending  an
22 institution of higher education located in this state that is
23 accredited by the Northwest association of schools and colleges;
24     (4) The adoption of participant selection criteria. The criteria
25 may include, but need not be limited to, requirements for:
26 Satisfactory academic progress, enrollment in courses or programs
27 that lead to a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree or a
28 certificate, and satisfactory participation as a reservist in the
29 armed forces reserve;
30     (5) With the assistance of the Washington military department,
31 the notification of reservists of their additional service obligation
32 or required repayment of the grant; and
33     (6) The collection of repayments from reservists who do not meet
34 the service obligations.
35     NEW SECTION.    Sec. 3.   (1) Reservists incur an obligation to
36 repay the grant, with interest, unless they serve in the armed forces
37 reserve for one year for each year they or their spouse or dependent
38 received the grant, under rules adopted by the office.
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1     (2) The office shall adopt rules addressing the terms for
2 repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, deferments, and
3 appeals, by a reservist who does not render service as a reservist in
4 the armed forces reserve necessary to satisfy his or her service
5 obligation.
6     (3) The office is responsible for collection of repayments made
7 under this section. The office shall exercise due diligence in such
8 collection, maintaining all necessary records to ensure that maximum
9 repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under
10 this section must be pursued using the full extent of law, including
11 wage garnishment if necessary. The office is responsible to forgive
12 all or parts of such repayments under the criteria established in
13 this section, and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven
14 payments.
15     (4) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest paid by or
16 on behalf of participants must be deposited with the office and must
17 be used to cover the costs of administration of the grant,
18 maintaining   necessary  records,   and   making  collections   under
19 subsection (3) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate
20 records of these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to
21 pay such costs must be used to make grant awards to eligible
22 students.
23     NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A reservist and the reservist's designated
24 spouse and dependents may simultaneously use the grant, subject to
25 any rules adopted by the office, and the limitation on the maximum
26 benefit.
27     NEW SECTION.     Sec. 5.    Sections 1   through   4   of   this   act
28 constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.
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