AZ HB2616

Establishes the Ernest McFarland Act Tuition Waiver Scholarship Program, administered by the Arizona Board of Regents, for veterans who served more than 180 days of active duty and were honorably discharged, as well as spouses and children of service members killed, missing, disabled, or who died from service-related causes.

Limits eligibility to individuals classified as in-state students who have attempted fewer than 150 credit hours using the tuition waiver and who maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Requires the Arizona Board of Regents to develop application processes, verify eligibility, and establish policies for determining maximum credit hours based on degree or certificate program length.

Excludes courses that do not receive state funding or have extraordinary costs from tuition waiver eligibility.

Provides hardship exceptions for students who fail to meet academic progress standards due to severe illness, caregiving responsibilities, or active military duty.