Summary — HB 667: “Reduce Barriers to College Completion” (North Carolina)
Status and procedural posture
- Bill: HB 667 (House Bill) — amends G.S. 116‑143.1.
- Filed: November 12, 2024.
- Passed 1st Reading: April 3, 2025; referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (previously to Public Education).
- Sponsors (primary): Reps. Cervania, Buansi, and Prather.
- Effective timing: Becomes effective when enacted and applies beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year.
Purpose and intent
- The bill’s stated purpose is to reduce barriers to college completion and help North Carolina meet workforce and postsecondary attainment goals by expanding eligibility for in‑state tuition to certain children of noncitizen parents who are lawfully admitted or lawfully present in the United States.
Key provisions (what the bill would change)
- Adds a new subsection (i1) to G.S. 116‑143.1 (tuition residency statute) to create an in‑state tuition eligibility pathway for persons who:
1. Were lawfully admitted to or are lawfully present in North Carolina; and
2. Have a parent or legal guardian who:
- Was lawfully admitted to or is lawfully present in the U.S.;
- Is not a U.S. citizen; and
- Holds a valid H‑1B or L‑1 visa; and
3. Meet one of the following student criteria:
- Hold a valid H‑4 visa; OR
- Are continuously enrolled at an institution of higher education (including approved leaves), and during that continuous enrollment:
- Held a valid H‑4 visa at some point, and
- Were classified as a resident for tuition purposes at some point; and
- Establish domicile in North Carolina under the statute.
Who is affected
- Directly affected: Noncitizen students who are lawfully present in the U.S. and who are children of H‑1B or L‑1 visa holders — primarily H‑4 visa holders and continuing students who previously held H‑4 status and have established residency for tuition purposes.
- Institutions: Public UNC System campuses and community colleges (tuition classification administrators) — potential impacts on tuition revenue, residency determinations, and enrollments.
- Fiscal stakeholders: State budget, university finances, and students/families (lower tuition cost for eligible students).
Policy rationale and expected impacts
- Rationale: Increase access to affordable public higher education to meet projected workforce needs (cites target of 2 million North Carolinians with postsecondary credentials by 2030).
- Potential effects: Could raise enrollment and credential attainment among eligible immigrant‑family students and reduce out‑of‑state tuition paid by these students. It may modestly reduce tuition revenue derived from nonresident rates, though precise fiscal impacts are not specified in the bill text.
Limitations and conditions
- Eligibility is limited to students with lawful presence and specific parental visa types (H‑1B or L‑1). The bill does not extend eligibility to undocumented students. Applicants must meet the domicile/residency rules set out in statute.
Next steps
- The bill will proceed through committee consideration (Rules and any subsequent committee or floor actions) and must be enacted to take effect for the 2025–2026 academic year.
