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A 4800

Enacts tuition-free NY to provide free tuition at SUNY, CUNY and community colleges

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeffrey Dinowitz

Proposes free tuition for SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges, expanding access for New York students; eligibility, funding, and administration details to be defined.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 4800

Summary of New York Bill A 4800 (2025)

Overview

Bill A 4800, introduced on February 6, 2025 and currently REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION, aims to enact “tuition-free NY,” providing free tuition at SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges. The bill is sponsored by primary (and likely chief) sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz. Related and companion bills exist in both the Assembly and Senate, including A 8616, A 54, A 7177, and S 4781 (companion).

What the bill would do

  • Enact a program to provide free tuition for attendance at:
    • State University of New York (SUNY) colleges
    • City University of New York (CUNY) colleges
    • Community colleges
  • The available information does not specify the exact eligibility criteria, funding mechanism, or administrative structure; those details would be defined in the bill’s text.

Key provisions and questions (to be clarified in the bill text)

  • Eligibility: Which students qualify (e.g., residency, income limits, academic standards, transfer status, full-time vs. part-time)?
  • Scope: Are all degree programs covered, including certificates and non-credit courses, or only specific programs?
  • Funding: How is the program funded (state appropriations, tuition offsets, scholarships, federal funds, or a combination)?
  • Administration: Which agency or department would administer the program and handle applications, renewals, and enforcement?
  • Duration and limits: Is the free-tuition offer limited to a standard course load or capped by academic year/degree program length?
  • Sunset or permanence: Is the program temporary or ongoing, and how would it be renewed or evaluated?

Who would be affected

  • Prospective and current students at SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges, particularly those seeking to reduce or eliminate tuition costs.
  • Higher education institutions in New York as they adjust budgeting, tuition processing, and enrollment management to reflect a free-tuition policy.
  • State and local agencies responsible for higher education funding and policy administration.

Legislative history and related bills

  • Status: Referred to Higher Education (as of 2025-02-06).
  • Sponsors: Jeffrey Dinowitz (primary).
  • Related/companion measures include A 8616, A 54, A 7177 (prior-session measures) and S 4781 (companion in the Senate). The presence of companion and related bills suggests alignment with broader efforts to expand or implement tuition-free higher education.

Timeline and next steps

  • Introduced: February 6, 2025.
  • Next steps in the legislative process: Committee review by the Higher Education committee, potential amendments, fiscal analysis, and consideration on the floor of the Assembly (and Senate, if corresponding companion moves) before voting.

Notes

  • A full understanding of the bill’s impact requires the text of A 4800 to review eligibility, funding, administration, and implementation details. These elements are not specified in the provided information.

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

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