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Committee advances 'Mississippi Resident Promise' last-dollar aid proposal for community-college students
Summary
Senate Bill 25-27 would create the Mississippi Resident Promise Program to provide last-dollar tuition coverage for qualifying Mississippi residents attending public community colleges.
Senator Boyd presented Senate Bill 25-27, the Mississippi Resident Promise Program, which would provide last-dollar aid to cover remaining tuition and required fees for eligible Mississippi residents attending public community colleges.
Under the bill as explained to the committee, eligible students must be Mississippi residents, have completed the FAFSA, be accepted for enrollment at a public community college in the state, and graduate from high school with a minimum GPA of 2.5. The award would cover the remaining cost of tuition and required fees for the time required to complete one associate degree or a maximum of four semesters; students must maintain continuous, full-time enrollment and at least a 2.5 GPA to remain eligible. The program would be overseen by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board.
Senator Boyd said the committee requested a fiscal note; staff estimated costs could range from about $9 million to $12.5 million annually. A motion described as "title sufficient, do pass" (mover identified in the hearing as Senator Polk) was carried and the committee reported the bill.
Next steps: the bill will be placed on the calendar; the fiscal note will inform budget deliberations if the bill is scheduled for floor action.
