ICYMI: Senate Passes Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Higher Ed Tuition

HB22-1155 would help more Coloradans earn post-secondary degrees

DENVER, CO – Yesterday, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, and Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, that will save Coloradans money on higher education tuition by expanding in-state tuition to more students and families.

Under current law, students must reside in Colorado for at least three years before they are eligible for in-state tuition. HB22-1155 changes the requirement to allow any student who graduates from a Colorado high school and has resided in the state for one year to receive in-state tuition.

"The cost of higher education shouldn't deter Colorado's students from pursuing a post-secondary degree at one of the excellent colleges and universities in the state," said Moreno. "By expanding the pool of students who qualify for in-state tuition, we lower the cost of education and  empower students to make decisions for their future based on their goals rather than the price tag."

“We know that access to higher education can be transformational for a young person’s life, but during the pandemic we saw a significant decrease in enrollment,” said Gonzales. “Immigrant Colorado high school graduates should be able to access our public higher education institutions in the same manner as their U.S. citizen friends and neighbors. This is a common sense, bipartisan measure, and it also has the benefit of being good for our economy, particularly in corners of the state that are desperate for young, educated workers. I am honored to work alongside a broad coalition of business groups, higher education institutions, and immigrant rights organizations to bring forward this bill.”

The bill now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill HERE.