What's happening
This bill requires New York public colleges and universities to create an appeals process for students denied state resident tuition rates, regardless of immigration status.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and accountability. By requiring colleges to post clear information about appeal rights and processes on their websites, the bill helps ensure that all students—including those who may be unfamiliar with the system—have access to critical information about their tuition status.
Protects due process for diverse student populations. The mandated appeals process applies to every student, no matter their immigration status, ensuring that non-citizen and undocumented students have a formal avenue to challenge potentially incorrect or unfair residency determinations.
Sets standardized timelines. By requiring reasonable time frames for both filing appeals and institutional responses, the bill aims to prevent indefinite delays, enabling students to resolve their tuition status quickly and plan their finances and enrollment accordingly.
Could impact college affordability and enrollment. Easier and fairer access to in-state tuition rates, especially for immigrant and undocumented students, may lead to increased college attendance and retention among these groups, potentially diversifying and strengthening New York’s higher education system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Appeals for Tuition Denials
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Appeal Resident Tuition Denials
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
940
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. MAMDANI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an appeals process for students denied the state resident tuition rate at a public college or university
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 22 to read as follows:
22. The state university trustees shall require that each institution of the state university establish an appeals process for any student, regardless of such student's immigration status, who has been denied the state resident tuition rate for attending such institution. Each institution shall establish a reasonable time period for the filing of an appeal after a prospective student has received written notification of a denial of the state resident tuition rate and a reasonable time period for the institution to respond to such an appeal. Information on the right to such appeal and such appeals process shall be posted on the institution's website.
§ 2. Section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 24 to read as follows:
24. The board of trustees shall require that each institution of the city university establish an appeals process for any student, regardless of such student's immigration status, who has been denied the state resident tuition rate for attending such institution. Each institution shall establish a reasonable time period for the filing of an appeal after a prospective student has received written notification of a denial of the state resident tuition rate and a reasonable time period for the institution to respond to such an appeal. Information on the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00147-01-5
right to such appeal and such appeals process shall be posted on the institution's website.
§ 3. Section 6306 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. The board of trustees of each community college shall establish an appeals process for any student, regardless of such student's immigration status, who has been denied the state resident tuition rate for attending such community college. The board of trustees of each community college shall establish a reasonable time period for the filing of an appeal after a prospective student has received written notification of a denial of the state resident tuition rate and a reasonable time period for the community college to respond to such an appeal. Information on the right to such appeal and such appeals process shall be posted on the community college's website.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.