House approves HB 197 to increase nonresident tuition-waiver slots at several colleges

The House passed House Bill 197, which modifies the number of nonresident tuition waivers institutions may award and clarifies that the waiver applies only to the resident portion of tuition.

Sponsor Representative Catherine Bryson said the changes reflect enrollment growth at institutions such as Dixie College, Utah Valley State College and Salt Lake Community College and come with no new state appropriation; she said the waiver counts came from the Commissioner of Higher Education’s office. Members questioned whether the additional nonresident waivers would reduce funds available to in-state students and asked for clarity on the fiscal note. Representative King, speaking from experience as someone from neighboring Colorado, explained that waivers remove the resident portion of tuition and that nonresident students still pay the larger nonresident rate; he said the state benefits if the waiver attracts students who otherwise would not attend.

Representative Hogue moved an amendment to reduce one institution’s allocation from 114 to 80 waivers (reflecting a university president’s stated need); the amendment failed in a roll-call division (19 yes, 47 no). After further floor debate and several members expressing support and concerns, the House closed voting; the clerk announced HB 197 passed 69–3 and the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.

Floor discussion emphasized institutional autonomy (presidents decide how to use waivers) and concerns about whether the regents-derived numbers were current; the transcript records requests for periodic re-evaluation and debate over whether increasing waivers entails net revenue loss. The bill proceeds to the Senate.