High-achieving out-of-state students may soon face tighter requirements to qualify for in-state tuition at Florida’s public universities, under a proposal approved Monday by the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee.
The bill (SB 1624), sponsored by Sen. Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami), seeks to amend a 2021 law that currently allows certain out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition if they have a grandparent who resides in Florida. The new measure would require that those grandparents have lived in the state as their primary residence for at least five years before their grandchildren could be eligible for the tuition break.
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The 2021 law was designed to attract top-tier students to Florida’s public colleges and universities. To qualify, students must score in the 89th percentile or higher on the ACT or SAT, among other academic criteria.
The program has been popular among families with ties to Florida, especially those with retirees who have relocated to the Sunshine State.
However, critics have raised concerns about the cost of subsidizing tuition for out-of-state students and whether the current law gives an unfair advantage to non-residents. Supporters of the change say the five-year residency requirement would ensure that only grandparents with a strong, established connection to Florida can confer the benefit.
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The proposed revision is part of a broader higher education bill that also includes a provision to rename Hillsborough Community College to Hillsborough College. The bill originally proposed calling the school Hillsborough State College, but that language has since been revised.
Before reaching the full Senate, SB 1624 must next clear the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee. If passed, it would also need approval from the House and Governor Ron DeSantis.
The measure comes amid a broader effort by Florida lawmakers to rework various aspects of the state’s higher education system, with a focus on aligning resources with in-state residents and promoting institutional efficiency.
No immediate estimates were provided on how many students would be affected if the five-year requirement is enacted.
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