Senate education committee advances bill to raise community college tuition cap

The Senate Education Committee on voice vote sent House Bill 79 to the full Senate with a due-pass recommendation after Representative James Petske, sponsor of the bill, said the measure would update a statutory tuition-rate cap for community colleges.

Representative James Petske (R.), who identified himself as representing District 21 in Meridian, told the committee the bill “is essentially changing one number,” and includes minor editorial fixes. He said the tuition cap in code has not changed since about 2008 and that community colleges hit the cap around 2016, which has prevented them from raising tuition to match inflation and growing costs, especially for hiring instructors.

The bill preserves an existing statutory limit that restricts tuition increases to a maximum of 10% per year, Petske said, and said community colleges are likely to aim for about a 5% increase in the first year. Petske told the committee that at a 5% annual increase it would take roughly 10 years to reach the new cap and that taking the full 10% annually would reach it in just over three years. He said the “new number will be $32.50” (as stated in the committee discussion) and that the proposal is intended to reduce pressure on local property taxes and state general fund dollars that also support community colleges.

Committee members asked follow-up questions about likely timing and magnitude of increases. Senator Cook asked whether colleges would immediately move to the cap; Petske reiterated the 10%-per-year statutory limit and said colleges were targeting smaller, roughly 5% increases. No member requested amendments. The committee approved a motion to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation by voice vote; the committee chair announced “motion carries.”

The bill affects how community college tuition contributes to local college budgets, alongside property tax and state general fund appropriations. Petske framed the change as modest and necessary because the fixed cap has hampered colleges’ ability to respond to inflation and staffing costs.

The committee record did not include a roll-call vote or an itemized fiscal estimate in the discussion. The motion to advance the bill was made from the floor and seconded; the mover named in committee remarks was Senator Cook. The committee recorded the action as approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance House Bill 79 — Motion: send House Bill 79 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. Mover: Senator Cook (named in committee). Second: not specified on the record. Outcome: approved (voice vote; “motion carries”).