The proposed bill, known as the New Hampshire Predatory College Degree Consumer Protection Act, aims to establish legal actions against educational institutions that charge excessive tuition rates. It introduces new criminal penalties and civil rights of action for institutions that charge tuition rates deemed unreasonable, defined as those that exceed a specific threshold based on the average earnings of graduates. The bill amends RSA 358-A:2 by adding a new paragraph that prohibits charging or soliciting unreasonable tuition rates, and it creates a new section, RSA 358-A:10-b, which outlines the criteria for determining excessive tuition based on graduates' earnings relative to their debt obligations.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that educational institutions can be held liable for the total cost of tuition and fees paid by individuals if they exceed the permissible threshold. It also includes provisions for a statute of limitations of ten years for civil actions and caps attorneys' fees for class action lawsuits at 10% of the total amount awarded. Notably, institutions may be immune from legal actions if students sign a waiver acknowledging the abusive nature of the tuition program. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and its implementation may lead to indeterminable costs for educational institutions as they navigate compliance and potential legal challenges.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 358-A:2