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H 1422

Resolve providing for the study and investigation relative to expanding the in-state higher education tuition and fee waiver program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa

Creates a cross-agency commission to study expanding in-state higher-ed tuition/fee waivers to additional clients, assess costs, funding, and report by Jan 1, 2027.

Accompanied a study order, see H5179
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Bill Summary · H 1422

Summary: H 1422 — Resolve for Study and Investigation on Expanding the In-State Higher Education Tuition and Fee Waiver Program

Purpose and Authority

  • Establishes a special commission to study and investigate expanding eligibility for the in-state higher education tuition and fee waiver program currently established in section 19 of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
  • The goal is to determine which clients (beyond current eligible groups) should be made eligible for the waiver.

Key Provisions

  • The Commission shall identify programs and clients, inclusive but not limited to the state agencies represented by the Commission’s members, that should be eligible for the waiver.
  • It shall compile data on the number and cost of potential new clients who could become eligible.
  • It shall identify possible funding sources to support an expanded tuition and fee waiver program.
  • All appointments to the Commission must be made within 30 days after the bill’s effective date.
  • The Commission must submit its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Clerks of the Senate and House no later than January 1, 2027.

Commission Composition

The Commission will be composed of, or their designees, the following:
- Chair of the Board of Higher Education (who shall serve as chair)
- Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
- Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services
- Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health
- Commissioner of the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
- Commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance
- Commissioner of MassAbility

Scope and Background

  • The bill relates to the state’s tuition and fee waiver program for in-state higher education.
  • It broadens inquiry to include clients served by a range of state programs and agencies, aiming to assess viability, scope, and funding for expanded eligibility.

Process, Timeline, and Procedure

  • Status: Referred to the House Committee on Higher Education (Feb 27, 2025); Senate concurrence noted in the actions.
  • Hearing: Scheduled for July 18, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room A-2.
  • Reporting Deadline: January 1, 2027, for the Commission to present findings and recommendations to the clerks of the Senate and House.
  • Nature of this measure: A Resolve (a study/investigation directive) rather than an immediate appropriation or program expansion.

Legislative Status and Related Actions

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • House Docket: No. 1422. Filed January 17, 2025.
  • Related Bill: HD 3402 (listed as a related replacement bill).
  • Current action: Hearing scheduled; committee referral to Higher Education; Senate concurrence indicated in the record.

Potential Impact

  • If expanded eligibility is recommended and enacted, the state would need to identify funding sources and implement program changes to extend the tuition and fee waiver to additional clients served by state programs.
  • The study will inform whether expansion is feasible, financially sustainable, and how it would affect enrollment and access to public higher education for students previously ineligible.

This summary presents the essential elements of H 1422: a time-bound, cross-agency study to assess expanding the in-state tuition and fee waiver program, with a detailed commission structure, data-gathering objectives, and a concrete reporting deadline.

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

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