Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Became Public Law No: 119-55.
Became law
Passed both chambers and was signed by the President, or became law without a signature.
Nothing more in Congress: it is law. When it takes effect depends on the dates written into it — some parts start at once, others a year or more later.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- To President
- Became Law
No one's position on it was recorded: the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together), and the Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote).
What this bill would do
H.R. 983 is known as the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025. This bill amends title 38 of the United States Code. It directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove courses of education offered by public institutions of higher learning if they do not charge the in-State tuition rate to certain individuals. This requirement specifically applies to veterans using certain educational assistance under title 10. The changes made by this section take effect on the date of the enactment of the Act. They apply with respect to an academic period that begins on or after August 1, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +9
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The legislation directly targets and protects veterans and selected reserve members by ensuring they are charged in-state tuition.
- Scored +8
Would students be better off under this?
Student reservists and veterans benefit directly from lower out-of-pocket college costs.
- Scored +8
Does this make college cost less?
The legislation directly improves college affordability for selected reserve veterans by requiring public institutions to charge them in-state tuition.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a): This section updates the law so that veterans and individuals entitled to assistance under chapter 1606 of title 10 are included in the requirements for in-state tuition rates. This is positive because it helps ensure these individuals are protected from paying out-of-state tuition at public institutions of higher learning.
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Section 2(c): This provision sets the effective date for the new rules to apply to academic periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026. This is beneficial because it gives schools a clear timeline to update their tuition rates for these specific veterans and students.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The legislation directly targets and protects veterans and selected reserve members by ensuring they are charged in-state tuition. Would students be better off under this? — Student reservists and veterans benefit directly from lower out-of-pocket college costs. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults serving in the Selected Reserve benefit directly from lower college tuition costs under this act. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lower-income student veterans and reservists benefit from reduced tuition expenses at public colleges. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged reservists returning to school or pursuing higher education benefit from in-state tuition protections. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class families with members in the reserves will save money on higher education costs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The legislation directly improves college affordability for selected reserve veterans by requiring public institutions to charge them in-state tuition.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill ensures that certain veterans and reserve members receive in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher learning.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill places conditions on public universities regarding tuition rates to qualify for certain VA educational programs.
- Public Law (12/13/2025)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
- 12/12/2025
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-55.
- 12/3/2025
- Presented to President.
- 11/20/2025
- Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8400)
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 4/8/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 4/7/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1432)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1432)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 983.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1432-1433)
- Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 3/7/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- 2/5/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House