House approves five‑year tuition freeze for regent institutions, citing need to rein in costs
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Summary
House File 2242, freezing resident undergraduate tuition at regent universities for five years, passed on Feb. 24 after debate about funding and fiscal shortfalls; lawmakers cited LSA estimates of multi‑million dollar gaps without additional state funding.
House File 2242 would prohibit increases in tuition charged to resident undergraduate students at regent institutions for a five‑year period. Representative Collins described the bill as providing predictability for students; Representative Zamir and Representative Jacoby pressed for more state funding to back a freeze and cited long‑term underfunding of the regent enterprise.
Representative Jacoby cited figures from the Legislative Services Agency fiscal analysis: an estimated shortfall of $25,000,000 for the University of Iowa, $27,900,000 for Iowa State University and $11,500,000 for UNI if the five‑year freeze proceeds without additional state appropriations. Supporters argued the policy would make college costs more predictable for students; critics said the freeze without state backup would shift greater fiscal pressure and could cut services or staff.
The House passed the bill by roll call (86 yeas, 5 nays, 9 absent). The House then ordered several passed bills messaged to the Senate and adjourned.