Sponsors
The bill tightens federal enforcement to limit in‑State tuition and public funds to citizens and lawful permanent residents—saving taxpayer dollars and standardizing rules for colleges—while reducing access and increasing costs, administrative burdens, and privacy risks for undocumented and some immigrant students and imposing compliance costs on states and institutions.
U.S. taxpayers and state budgets: public funds and in‑State tuition discounts would be limited to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, likely reducing state-funded subsidies and lowering taxpayer outlays tied to in‑State tuition.
U.S. students who are citizens or lawful permanent residents: restores and clarifies preference for citizens/LPRs for in‑State tuition, addressing perceived unfairness in tuition policy.
Federal and state education authorities and institutions: creates a clearer, enforceable federal standard (including conditioning Title IV participation) so states and colleges must comply with 8 U.S.C.1623 and face federal leverage to ensure uniform application.
Undocumented and some immigrant low‑income students: would lose access to in‑State tuition and certain state financial aid, making college substantially more expensive and reducing access to higher education for these groups.
Students who fail verification: those determined ineligible after DHS SAVE checks may owe retroactive tuition differences (with interest) and could be barred from enrollment if they cannot repay within 90 days, creating immediate financial and educational disruption.
States that previously set their own tuition policies: would lose discretion to provide in‑State rates to undocumented students, potentially reducing college access for residents in those states.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Bars undocumented immigrants from state postsecondary benefits (including in‑state tuition), requires DHS SAVE verification, lets colleges recoup tuition differences, and allows HEA sanctions for violating states.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Thomas Bryant Cotton · Last progress December 16, 2025
Bars aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States from receiving any state-provided postsecondary education benefit (including in‑state tuition). Requires public colleges and universities to verify immigration status through the Department of Homeland Security SAVE system before granting benefits and annually thereafter, allows institutions to seek repayment with interest for benefits wrongly given, and authorizes federal higher-education sanctions for states that violate the rule. The rule applies to enrollments on or after enactment and to continuing students found ineligible after post-enactment verification, and becomes effective for academic years beginning July 1, 2026.