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Death & Survivor Benefits

Oklahoma Gold Star Survivor Tuition and Fee Waiver

From November 1, 2026, the spouse and children of a service member killed in the line of duty pay no tuition at Oklahoma public colleges and technology centers, and no fees or room and board for five years, if the service member was an Oklahoma resident or the survivor lives here. Oklahoma has no tuition waiver for children of living 100 percent disabled veterans, whatever some guides say.

Also called: House Bill 2961, TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, 70 O.S. 3218.7-2, 70 O.S. 3218.7-1, 70 O.S. 14-134, 70 O.S. 14-134.1, Gold Star, tuition waiver, room and board, Senate Bill 1223.

For: Child, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

House Bill 2961, the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, signed May 11, 2026 as chapter 293, takes effect November 1, 2026. What it does. A new Title 70, section 3218.7-2: within the state system of higher education "no resident tuition or nonresident tuition shall be charged to the spouse or children of a Gold Star recipient who was killed in the line of duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces", provided either the service member "was a legal resident of the State of Oklahoma at the time of death" or "the spouse or child maintains residency in the State of Oklahoma during enrollment". The act adds the same survivors to three existing waivers written for the families of police officers and firefighters: no fees and no room and board at colleges and universities (section 3218.7-1), no tuition at technology centers (section 14-134) and no fees at technology centers (section 14-134.1). The limits. The fee, room and board and technology center waivers are "limited to a period of five (5) years". The new tuition waiver in section 3218.7-2 carries no time limit and no age limit on its face. The act does not define "Gold Star recipient"; the family's DD Form 1300 showing a line of duty death is the natural proof. How it fits with Heroes Promise. Heroes Promise covers children only, requires a death after January 1, 2000, an Oklahoma tax return and enrolment before 21. The new waiver reaches spouses, has no date or age limit and turns on residence. A child who qualifies for both should ask the college how they stack. What does not exist. A national guide, updated in 2026, says children of 100 percent permanently and totally disabled veterans "pay no tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, universities, and technology centers" and that "As of 2024, state law (SB 1223) expanded this benefit". There is no such Oklahoma waiver for the children of a living disabled veteran. Senate Bill 1223 of 2024 concerned state employee insurance opt-out payments and never left the Senate Appropriations Committee. The fee waivers it may have been confused with, Laws 2024, chapter 382, are for the children of peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Oklahoma Gold Star Survivor Tuition and Fee Waiver
GateRule
Service member killed in the line of duty70 O.S. § 3218.7-2 (2026 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 293, § 2).
Service member an Oklahoma resident at death, or the survivor an Oklahoma resident while enrolled70 O.S. §§ 3218.7-1(A)(5), 3218.7-2.
In force from November 1, 20262026 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 293, § 6.

Sources

Legislation

Law the tracker is watching for this entry. See the legislation tracker for every jurisdiction.

2026 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 293 (HB 2961) Waived college and technology center tuition, fees and room and board for the spouse and children of a service member killed in the line of duty

Watching a later dateEnactedProgram created

Signed Takes effect

  1. Introduced Done, , step 1 of 6
  2. In committee Done, , step 2 of 6
  3. Passed one chamber Done, , step 3 of 6
  4. Passed both chambers Done, , step 4 of 6
  5. Signed by the governor Done, , step 5 of 6
  6. In effect Done, , step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Waives college tuition, fees and room and board for the spouse and children of a service member killed in the line of duty.

The TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act. Created 70 O.S. § 3218.7-2, barring resident and nonresident tuition in the state system of higher education for the spouse or children of a Gold Star recipient killed in the line of duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, where the service member was an Oklahoma resident at death or the survivor lives in Oklahoma while enrolled, and added the same survivors to the fee and room and board waiver in § 3218.7-1 and the technology center tuition and fee waivers in §§ 14-134 and 14-134.1, which are limited to five years. Signed May 11, 2026, effective November 1, 2026. Watching until the effective date.

Sponsors

  • HildebrantHouse
  • WoodsSenate

And 5 co-sponsors

Touches 70 O.S. § 3218.7-2 · 70 O.S. § 3218.7-1 · 70 O.S. § 14-134 · 70 O.S. § 14-134.1

Official record

SB 1223 Cited by a national guide as expanding a tuition waiver for children of 100 percent disabled veterans; it was an insurance bill and died

Catalog reconciledDid not pass

59th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, 2024

  1. Introduced Done, , step 1 of 6
  2. In committee Done, , step 2 of 6
  3. Died Stopped here, step 3 of 6
  4. Passed both chambers Not reached, step 4 of 6
  5. Signed by the governor Not reached, step 5 of 6
  6. In effect Not reached, step 6 of 6

No change to benefits A state employee benefit allowance bill; it never touched veterans' children's tuition.

A 2026 national guide says children of 100 percent permanently and totally disabled veterans pay no tuition at Oklahoma public colleges and technology centers and that "state law (SB 1223)" expanded the benefit in 2024. SB 1223 of 2024 concerned the opt-out amount for state employees declining the flexible benefit allowance and was last referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee in February 2024. Oklahoma has no tuition waiver for the children of a living disabled veteran; the waivers for survivors of a line of duty death are Heroes Promise and, from November 1, 2026, HB 2961.

Sponsor

  • HamiltonSenate

Touches 70 O.S. § 3218.7-1

Official record

Updated

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.