IL SB1353

Modifies the Illinois Veteran Grant program to base tuition and fee coverage on length of active duty service: 72 credit hours for 12-18 months of service, scaling up to 120 credit hours for 36+ months of service, replacing the previous flat 4-year benefit

Allows veterans to transfer their grant benefits to a qualified dependent (spouse or child under 26) beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, provided the veteran served at least 6 years of active duty plus 2 years of Reserve service

Qualified dependents receiving transferred benefits must be Illinois residents, meet institutional GPA requirements, and cannot simultaneously receive benefits under the MIA/POW Scholarship program

Veterans with 90-100% service-connected disability ratings or those killed in action, POW, or MIA are exempt from certain residency requirements, and their dependents receive the full 120 credit hour benefit regardless of service length

Effective date of July 1, 2025