North Carolina Senate Bill S691

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/26/25

Caption

In-State Tuition Equity

Summary

Senate Bill 691 would expand eligibility for in-state tuition at University of North Carolina constituent institutions and North Carolina community colleges to certain students who graduated from a North Carolina high school or earned a North Carolina high school equivalency diploma, attended North Carolina schools for at least two consecutive years before finishing high school, and are enrolled in a public college or community college in the state. For students without lawful immigration status, the bill requires an affidavit submitted through the residency determination process stating that the student has applied, or intends to apply when eligible, to legalize immigration status. The bill also makes information collected during the in-state tuition application process confidential and not a public record. It would take effect July 1, 2025, and apply beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Impact

The bill would amend G.S. 116-143.1 to create a new statutory pathway for in-state tuition eligibility for qualifying students, including some undocumented students, at UNC constituent institutions and community colleges. It would also add a confidentiality provision shielding application information from public disclosure. The practical effect is to reduce tuition costs for eligible students and alter residency/tuition administration procedures used by the State Education Assistance Authority and public postsecondary institutions.

Sentiment

Based on the bill title, sponsorship, and lack of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be introduced as a policy proposal with support from its primary sponsors but without documented public sentiment in the record provided. The framing of the bill as "In-State Tuition Equity" suggests a favorable intent toward expanding access to higher education for long-term North Carolina students. No vote history or transcript evidence is available here to show broader legislative support or opposition.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the inclusion of students who do not have lawful immigration status, since the bill expressly extends in-state tuition to some of those students if they meet the residency and schooling requirements and submit the required affidavit. Supporters would likely emphasize educational access, fairness, and workforce development for students raised in North Carolina, while opponents may object to extending a state tuition benefit to undocumented students or to the confidentiality of application information. Another possible issue is the administrative burden on institutions and the residency determination process.