Gov. Kate Brown signed into law Saturday a bill providing full tuition to Oregon National Guard members seeking higher education, with the signing ceremony at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls.

House Bill 4035 was passed unanimously by legislators in March and Brown said she was honored to sign the bill at the home of the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard.

“I’m so proud to sign into law a bill that supports our National Guard members,” she said.

The bill allows the state to cover all tuition costs for guard members seeking an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree through a public school, including up to 70 credit hours at a community college and up to 120 hours at a university. If the student has other assistance such as grants or scholarships, the state would cover the remainder of their costs, if any.

Brown said supporting education for guard members was a sign of the state’s commitment to those in military service.

“We are absolutely committed to our guard members,” she said.

Rep. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte), who co-sponsored the bill, said it was a long shot to pass such a bill during the short session. He said it would not have succeeded without Brown’s support for schools and those in military service.

“This governor is so pro-education, pro-airman and pro-soldier it was an easy sell,” said McLane.

He also gave credit to co-sponsor Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver), whom McLane said was so well regarded by fellow legislators they could not turn the bill down.

“Everyone likes Gene and he’s retiring so no one wanted to say ‘No’ to his last bill,” said McLane.

At Kingsley Field, more than 600 personnel could potentially benefit from the bill. Among them is Airman First Class Gracen Moore, who plans to begin classes at Portland State University in the fall with a double-major in marketing and advertising management.

“To me it was everything,” she said of HB 4035 becoming law. “I can pursue my dream of college.”

Moore, a Henley High School Graduate, said she is a third-generation member of the military, but would be the first person in her family to graduate from college. She said she hopes to join the commissioned ranks of the guard and use her education to help with recruitment.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity,” she said.

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Brown Signs Guard Tuition Bill at Kingsley (H&N)