STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRIS TULLY
District 38 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Permits certain students to qualify for in-State tuition at four-year public institution of higher education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning tuition rates for certain students and supplementing P.L.2013, c.170 (C.18A:64-4.4).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, a student, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of section 101 (a)(15) of the "Immigration and Nationality Act" (8 U.S.C. s.1101(a)(15)), who does not meet the requirements established pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2013, c.170 (C.18A:64-4.4)., shall be exempt from paying out-of-State tuition at a four-year public institution of higher education if the student:
(1) attained an associate’s degree from a county college established by the county in which the student resides and was regarded as a resident of the county for the purpose of determining tuition; and
(2) in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, files an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize the student’s immigration status or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.
b. Student information obtained in the implementation of this section shall be confidential.
c. The Secretary of Higher Education shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill permits certain students to qualify for in-State tuition at a four-year public institution of higher education.
Current law provides that a student is exempt from paying out-of-State tuition at a public institution of higher education if the student: (1) attended high school in this State for three or more years; (2) graduated from a high school in this State or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State; (3) registers as an entering student or is currently enrolled in a public institution of higher education not earlier than the fall semester of the 2013-2014 academic year; and (4) in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, files an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize the student’s immigration status or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.
This bill provides that if a student does not meet the requirements of that law, a student will be exempt from paying out-of-State tuition at a four-year public institution of higher education if the student attained an associate’s degree from a county college established by the county in which the student resides and was regarded as a resident of the county for the purpose of determining tuition. A student without lawful immigration status will also be required to file an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize the student’s immigration status or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.