SCS/SB 1322 - Currently, any Missouri National Guard member may be awarded an educational assistance grant to an approved public or private higher education institution. This act provides that any Missouri National Guard member may be awarded, upon application before each semester, either a tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at a postsecondary institution of higher education located in this state that directly receives funds appropriated by the General Assembly or a grant to certain eligible institutions as defined in the act. The tuition and fee waiver shall not be implemented prior to the 2025-2026 academic year and shall only be applicable to tuition and fees remaining after the application of certain other tuition assistance programs and grants as provided in the act. The educational assistance shall not exceed the lesser of the actual tuition charged at an institution where the member is enrolled or accepted for enrollment or the total of the number of credit hours taken multiplied by the average tuition cost per credit hour charged to a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri for attendance, with the average cost determined by the Missouri National Guard. In addition to the current application and eligibility requirements, this act provides that the member shall not have yet earned a baccalaureate degree and that the member has completed and submitted a FAFSA application for the applicable term. The tuition and fee waiver shall be awarded if the member applies and is otherwise eligible, except shall only be awarded after the Missouri National Guard has distributed moneys available to the member through the State Tuition Assistance Program. Additionally, an applicant for the tuition and fee waiver shall cease to be eligible if his or her total completed credit hours exceeds 120 credit hours. Furthermore, this act provides that the tuition and fee waiver shall not be available in fiscal years in which the percentage of the total program costs covered by state appropriation for the educational assistance programs covered by this act has decreased compared to the previous fiscal year. This act is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024), is substantially similar to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 912 (2024), and is similar to a provision in HB 2166 (2024). KATIE O'BRIEN