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HB 81

Community and junior colleges; authorize boards of trustees to reduce or waive out-of-state tuition for certain students.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Daryl Porter

Mississippi bill authorizes community college boards to reduce or waive out-of-state tuition for specified students to improve college access and competitiveness.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 81

Legislative bill overview

HB 81 would grant community and junior college boards of trustees in Mississippi the authority to reduce or waive out-of-state tuition fees for certain eligible students. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, without advancing further in the legislative process.

Why is this important

Out-of-state tuition typically costs significantly more than in-state tuition, creating barriers for students from other states seeking education in Mississippi. This discretionary authority could make Mississippi's community colleges more accessible and competitive for recruiting students, while potentially generating enrollment revenue that might offset reduced tuition income.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact: Colleges would lose tuition revenue from out-of-state students, raising questions about institutional funding and whether this cost would shift to taxpayers or other students
  • Fairness concerns: Allowing discretionary waivers could create inconsistent treatment of students and raise equity questions about which students receive benefits
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's language regarding "certain students" lacks specificity, leaving unclear criteria for eligibility and discretionary standards boards would apply

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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