State lawmaker pulls a bill to help dependent children of Tennessee veterans attend college because of belt tightening

Tennessee’s tighter budget has claimed its first education related legislative victim of the session.Monday night Representative Jay Reedy, R-Erin, pulled HB1604 from discussion in the House Higher Education Subcommittee, saying he currently doesn’t see a way forward because of the cost.The bill would have waived tuition and fees at public higher education institutions to dependent children under 23 of Tennessee veterans that are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected injury.Representative Reedy says he filed the bill after receiving an email last year from a disabled veteran.“Sir, I am one of your constituents here in Stewart County. I learned tat had I died while serving, my children would be eligible to attend college for free per Tennessee Code 49-7-102 – and of course, we’re talking about a Marine veteran. What I am proposing is that the eligibility be extended to the children of veterans that join the service as Tennessee residents or are currently Tennessee residents, and rated at 100 percent and total disability,” said Reedy reading the email.The state is expected to have a revenue shortfall this year and Reedy told committee members the fiscal impact of his bill is estimated to decrease state revenue by $2.4 million for locally governed institutions, $1.4 million for the University of Tennessee College System, almost $500,000 for the Tennessee Board of Regents College System, and almost $142,000 for the Tennessee Promise Reserve Account.“At this time, I really don’t see a path forward with this piece of legislation,” said Reedy. “At this time, I just ask that we take this bill off-notice.”