H.B. 1031
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
May 2, 2024
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40581-MTa-189
Short Title: Reduce Barriers to College Completion. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Cervania.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO PROVIDE IN-STATE TUITION FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN OF LAWFULLY
3 ADMITTED OR LAWFULLY PRESENT NONCITIZENS.
4 Whereas, it is projected that by 2030, sixty-seven percent (67%) of jobs will require
5 a postsecondary degree or credential, underscoring the importance of the educational attainment
6 goal in North Carolina to have two million North Carolinians between the ages of 25 and 44 with
7 a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030; and
8 Whereas, on its current trajectory, North Carolina will fall short by at least 71,000
9 individuals to meet our projected workforce needs; and
10 Whereas, over eighty percent (80%) of employers in the State reported difficulty
11 finding employees for jobs requiring industry-valued credentials; and
12 Whereas, jobs requiring industry-valued credentials are expected to increase by more
13 than eleven percent (11%) in the next six years; and
14 Whereas, children of H-1B visa holders who are lawfully admitted or lawfully present
15 and documented residents receive in-State tuition until they are 21 years old and are not yet
16 finished with their four-year degrees; and
17 Whereas, immigrant households contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal,
18 State, and local taxes that fund our public universities; and
19 Whereas, North Carolina must increase the number of postsecondary-,
20 public-university-educated individuals so the State can have more potential employees entering
21 the workforce with industry-valued credentials; Now, therefore,
22 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
23 SECTION 1. G.S. 116-143.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
24 "(i1) A person who was lawfully admitted to this State or is lawfully present in this State
25 and meets the following requirements is eligible to be charged the in-State tuition rate:
26 (1) Has a parent or legal guardian who meets all of the following criteria:
27 a. Was lawfully admitted to the United States or is lawfully present in
28 the United States.
29 b. Is not a citizen of the United States.
30 c. Holds a valid H-1B visa or L-1 visa.
31 (2) Meets all of the following criteria:
32 a. Either of the following:
33 1. Holds a valid H4 visa.
34 2. All of the following:
*DRH40581-MTa-189*
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 I. Is continuously enrolled at an institution of higher
2 education, including any approved leave of absence
3 from the institution.
4 II. Held a valid H4 visa at some point during the period of
5 continuous enrollment.
6 III. Was classified as a resident for tuition purposes at some
7 point during the period of continuous enrollment.
8 b. Establishes domicile in this State under this section."
9 SECTION 2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund for the 2024-2025
10 fiscal year the following amounts in nonrecurring funds to offset the reduction in tuition receipts
11 due to additional students receiving in-State tuition pursuant to G.S. 116-143.1(i1), as enacted
12 by this act:
13 (1) Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to the Board of Governors of The
14 University of North Carolina.
15 (2) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to the Community Colleges
16 System Office.
17 SECTION 2.(b) Beginning in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Community Colleges
18 System Office shall incorporate any losses in estimated receipts resulting from the increased
19 eligibility for in-State tuition pursuant to Section 1 of this act into its enrollment funding model
20 without reducing its total requirements.
21 SECTION 3. Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2024. Except as
22 otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the
23 2024-2025 academic year.
Page 2 DRH40581-MTa-189
Statutes affected: Filed: 116-143.1
Edition 1: 116-143.1