VA military education benefits changes heat up lawmaking session [Video]

RICHMOND, Va. — On Tuesday afternoon, the Virginia Senate reconvened for a special session to address adverse impacts resulting from changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP). The program is a tuition waiver for families of fallen or disabled veterans, allowing those who qualify to receive higher education for free.

Conversations started in the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committee. It centered around fixing the unintended consequences that came to the Virginia military survivors and dependents education program when the governor signed the budget in May. 

Portsmouth Sen. Louise Lucas led the proceedings, with two pieces of legislation focused on VMSDEP and highly debated skill games. Lucas chose not to docket any items, meaning they could not be voted on. 

She did forge a path forward with a piece of legislationon how to handle the program. It would include establishing a workgroup, similar to Gov. …