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NY A00890
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/8/2025
Primary Sponsor
Phara Souffrant Forrest
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AI Summary
- Eliminates tuition and fees for students at SUNY state-operated institutions and community colleges who are eligible for resident tuition rates, enrolled in credit-bearing coursework, and on track to graduate
- Creates the State University Tuition Fund, held jointly by the state comptroller and commissioner of taxation and finance, to reimburse SUNY 100% of tuition and fee costs for qualifying students
- Redirects existing Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Excelsior Scholarship funding into the new State University Tuition Fund
- Allows students a one-semester exemption from academic progress requirements while maintaining eligibility for other grants and scholarships even if they temporarily lose the tuition waiver
- Requires fund distributions to SUNY within 30 days of each semester's start, with payments functioning as "first dollar awards" that do not reduce other state or federal financial aid
Legislative Description
Enacts "new deal for SUNY: the New York state higher education equality act" to provide free tuition to students who attend SUNY who are enrolled in academic coursework and are on track to graduate; establishes the state university tuition fund to reimburse the state university of New York for the cost of tuition for students who are eligible for free tuition.
Last Action
referred to higher education
1/7/2026
Committee Referrals
Higher Education1/8/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available