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In-state tuition status to be given to National Guard, Reserves

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Soldiers with the Missouri National Guard and Army Reserves will be eligible for in-state tuition rates at Missouri’s colleges and universities under legislation signed by Gov. Jay Nixon Monday.

Under Senate Bill 968, any person currently serving in the Missouri National Guard or the reserves of the U.S. Armed Forces will be considered an in-state resident for the purpose of paying tuition at any four-year institution or an in-direct resident at tuition at a public two-year institution.

“We’ve worked hard to make college more affordable for all students, and I am proud to sign this legislation ensuring in-state tuition for those young men and women who are serving their country while pursuing a college degree,” Nixon said in a prepared statement.

Missouri leads the nation, Nixon said, in holding down tuition increases at public colleges and universities and the legislation is intended to help more service members take advantage of these lower costs.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla.

The governor also signed the following bills Monday:

  • House Bill 1681, which exempts a yoga teacher training course, program of school from the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s regulation of proprietary schools.
  • House Bill 2125, which allows any state or federally chartered financial institution in Missouri that is insured by the FDIC or the National Credit Union Administration to offer savings promotion programs. A savings promotion program encourages people to save money by holding a contest in which a participant can win prizes if he or she makes a minimum deposit into an eligible account. Financial institutions that participate in these programs must comply with the regulations contained in the federal American Savings Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 18, 2014.
  • House Bill 2428, which replaces the term “guidance counselor” with “school counselor” throughout existing sections of elementary and secondary education law.
  • Senate Bills 620 and 2428, which authorizes the State Board of Education, in consultation with the career and technical education (CTE) advisory council, to establish minimum requirements for CTE certificate that students can earn in addition to a high-school diploma.