Keep In-State Tuition For All Utah Residents

Stop H.B. 191, "Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments" 

H.B. 191, "Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments" will be heard in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee tomorrow morning. This bill seeks to repeal the current Utah law allowing non-citizens to be eligible for in-state tuition if they attended a Utah high school for three years or more, and graduated from a Utah high school. Please contact committee members and tell them to VOTE NO on H.B. 191.

Talking Points:

Utah's current law is critical to promoting fundamental fairness in access to public higher education for talented, high achieving young people who are able to gain admission to our public colleges and universities, regardless of their immigration status.

• Denying these students access to affordable college education is short-sighted because they are likely to remain in the United States and may well regularize their immigration status under current or future federal laws.
  
• Providing in-state tuition to Utah high school graduates at public colleges and universities promotes economic growth and increases opportunities. College graduates who are likely to remain in Utah earn higher wages, and therefore generate significantly more in income, sales, and property taxes. Their increased earning power and disposable income stimulate growth in our state's economy. A better educated population also increases competitiveness in the global economy.
  
• Denying higher education access to undocumented students means failing to capitalize on Utah's investment in their K-12 education. Many of the undocumented students already educated in the K-12 public school system come from impoverished backgrounds and would not otherwise be able to attend college or university without in-state tuition.

House Revenue and Taxation Committee
Committee Chairman Rep. Patrick Painter (R), Email: ppainter@utah.gov
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe (D), Email: jbriscoe@utah.gov
Rep. Mel Brown (R), Email: melbrown@utah.gov
Rep. David G. Butterfield (R), Email: dbutterfield@utah.gov
Rep. David Clark (R), Email: dclark@utah.gov
Rep. Tim M. Cosgrove (D), Email: tcosgrove@utah.gov
Rep. John Dougall (R), Email: jdougall@utah.gov
Rep. Susan Duckworth (D), Email: sduckworth@utah.gov
Rep. Julie Fisher (R), Email: jfisher@utah.gov
Rep. Gage Froerer (R), Email: gfroerer@utah.gov
Rep. Wayne A. Harper (R), Email: wharper@utah.gov
Rep. Eric Hutchings (R), Email: ehutchings@utah.gov
Rep. Brian King (D), Email: briansking@utah.gov
Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold (R), Email: merlynnnewbold@utah.gov
Rep. Jim Nielson (R), Email: jimnielson@utah.gov