Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Higher Education Tuition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House panel advances bill to raise community college tuition cap from $2,500 to $3,250
Summary
The Idaho House Committee on Education voted to send House Bill 79 to the full House with a “do pass” recommendation. The bill would raise the statutory cap on community college tuition from $2,500 to $3,250; committee discussion included fiscal estimates and the limits on annual tuition increases contained in state code.
BOISE — The House Committee on Education voted Monday to send House Bill 79 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation after Representative Lance Clow told members the bill would raise the statutory cap on community college tuition from $2,500 to $3,250.
Representative Lance Clow (R-District 25), who presented the bill, said the increase is intended to give community colleges more local revenue flexibility. “We increase the cap from $2,500 to $3,250,” Clow said during his presentation, noting that community colleges’ governing boards set tuition and that many colleges had reached the current cap.
Clow told the committee that state code already limits community colleges from raising tuition by more than 10% in any single year and that colleges were expected to average about a 5% increase in the first year under the proposed cap. He said the fiscal note estimates the aggregate increase across the four community colleges would be about $1.5 million.
Committee members who spoke during the bill discussion voiced support. Representative Nelson, who represents part of a community college district, thanked Clow for coordinating with the colleges and said rising private-sector wages have made staffing a challenge for community colleges, a factor he said makes the increase appropriate.
Public testimony was opened and closed with no one registered to speak. Representative Garner moved to send HB 79 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. Chair Pickett announced, “All in favor, say aye,” and the motion carried.
The committee record shows no roll-call tally was taken during the meeting; the vote was decided by voice.
Why it matters: Community colleges told legislators they are facing capacity and staffing pressures as enrollment grows. HB 79 would raise the statutory ceiling on tuition that local community college boards can charge, while preserving the existing statutory limit on how fast boards can increase tuition year to year.
What the bill would change: HB 79 would raise the cap on community college tuition from $2,500 to $3,250 (amounts stated by the bill sponsor in committee). The bill does not change the statutory limit that prevents colleges from increasing tuition by more than 10% in a single year, a constraint the sponsor cited in committee.
Next steps: With the committee recommendation, HB 79 proceeds to the full Idaho House for floor consideration.
Votes at this meeting: House Committee on Education — Motion to send House Bill 79 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation: approved by voice vote; no roll-call recorded.
