Postsecondary Out-of-state Fee Waivers:
SB 90 would repeal Florida’s existing statutory requirement that certain postsecondary institutions waive out-of-state fees for students who attended a Florida secondary school for three consecutive years, graduated from a Florida high school, and enroll in college within 24 months. The bill removes the current provision that applies to state universities, Florida College System institutions, district career centers, and charter technical career centers, including the language that expressly covers students who are undocumented for federal immigration purposes.
Under current law, eligible students pay no more than resident tuition and fees for a limited number of credit hours, and institutions must report the number and value of waivers granted. SB 90 would delete those provisions, which would eliminate the statewide fee-waiver pathway for this group and remove the related reporting and enrollment-accounting rules tied to nonresident student limits. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.
The bill would amend section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, by striking the subsection that authorizes out-of-state fee waivers for certain Florida high school graduates who are otherwise classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes. Its practical effect would be to increase tuition costs for affected students at public universities, Florida College System institutions, and certain career centers, while also eliminating the institutions’ reporting obligations and the special enrollment treatment associated with these waivers. It would also remove the explicit statutory reference to undocumented students from this fee-waiver provision.
There is limited recorded legislative discussion in the provided materials, and the bill was withdrawn prior to introduction, so there is no vote history or committee record showing formal support or opposition. Based on the substance of the bill, the issue is likely to be politically sensitive because it affects access and affordability for Florida high school graduates who do not qualify for resident tuition, including undocumented students. The withdrawal suggests the proposal did not advance in the 2025 session.
The main point of contention is the elimination of a tuition benefit for students who have lived and attended school in Florida but are still classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes. Supporters of the existing waiver policy would likely view the bill as reducing college affordability and access, especially for long-term Florida students and undocumented graduates. Opponents of the waiver may support the bill on the grounds that it narrows benefits for nonresidents and removes a tuition subsidy they may see as inappropriate. The bill also implicates broader debates over immigration, higher education access, and the use of public funds.