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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1255
H.P. 830 House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
An Act to Ensure In-state Tuition for Postsecondary Students Who
Are Registered to Vote in the State and to Amend Eligibility
Requirements for the Free Community College Tuition Program
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RUDNICKI of Fairfield.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BAGSHAW of Windham, CIMINO of Bridgton, HAGGAN
of Hampden, QUINT of Hodgdon, WHITE of Guilford.
Page 1 - 132LR1431(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §10018 is enacted to read:
3§10018. In-state tuition for registered voters
4 A student who is registered to vote in this State is considered to be a resident of this
5 State and is eligible for in-state tuition rates at any postsecondary educational institution in
6 this State that offers an in-state tuition rate.
71. Voting residency qualifications. A student who is eligible for in-state tuition rates
8 under this section must meet the residency qualifications in Title 21-A, sections 111 and
9 112.
102. Residency. A student who is eligible for in-state tuition rates under this section
11 may be:
12 A. Considered a permanent resident, as defined in Title 36, section 681, subsection 4,
13 for homestead property tax exemption purposes;
14 B. Considered a resident, as defined in Title 36, section 4062, subsection 6, for estate
15 tax purposes;
16 C. Subject to resident income taxes pursuant to Title 36, chapter 823;
17 D. Considered to be domiciled in the State for probate purposes pursuant to Title 18-C,
18 section 1-301; and
19 E. Eligible to run for state office pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV,
20 Part First, Section 4; Article IV, Part Second, Section 6; and Article V, Part First,
21 Section 4.
22 Additionally, a family member of a student who is eligible for in-state tuition rates under
23 this section may be eligible for in-state tuition rates at a postsecondary educational
24 institution in this State.
25Sec. 2. PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. QQQ, §3 is amended to read:
26Sec. QQQ-3. Eligibility and conditions for 2-year free community college
27tuition program.
281. Eligibility. For purposes of this Part, an eligible student is:
29 A. A high school graduate in the class of 2020 or 2021 or a person who obtains the
30 equivalent of a high school diploma in 2020 or 2021, who enrolls in a Maine
31 community college no later than during the 2023-2024 academic year;
32 B. A high school graduate in the class of 2022 or a person who obtains the equivalent
33 of a high school diploma in 2022, who enrolls in a Maine community college no later
34 than the 2024-2025 academic year;
35 C. A high school graduate in the class of 2023 or a person who obtains the equivalent
36 of a high school diploma in 2023, who enrolls in a Maine community college no later
37 than the 2025-2026 academic year;
38 D. A high school graduate in the class of 2024 or a person who obtains the equivalent
39 of a high school diploma in 2024, who enrolls in a Maine community college no later
40 than the 2026-2027 academic year; or
Page 2 - 132LR1431(01)
1 E. A high school graduate in the class of 2025 or a person who obtains the equivalent
2 of a high school diploma in 2025, who enrolls in a Maine community college no later
3 than the 2027-2028 academic year.
42. Conditions. In order to receive 2 years of free community college, an eligible
5 student must:
6 A. Pursue an associate degree or academic credential;
7 B. Reside in the State at the time of enrollment in a Maine community college and for
8 the duration of that enrollment;
9 B-1. Reside in the State for at least 2 years prior to enrollment in a Maine community
10 college or be a graduate of a high school in the State;
11 C. Accept all federal and state grants, scholarships and other sources of funding that
12 are available and for which the student has applied and qualified; and
13 D. Complete the program of study within 200% of the stated completion time.
14SUMMARY
15 This bill provides that a student who is registered to vote in this State is considered to
16 be a resident of this State and is eligible for in-state tuition rates at any postsecondary
17 educational institution in this State that offers an in-state tuition rate. It provides that such
18 a student must meet the voting residency qualifications and that the student may be
19 considered a permanent resident for homestead property tax exemption purposes and a
20 resident for estate tax purposes, subject to resident income taxes and eligible to run for state
21 office. A family member of the student may be eligible for in-state tuition rates at a
22 postsecondary educational institution in the State. The bill also requires a person to be a
23 graduate of a high school in the State or reside in the State for at least 2 years prior to
24 enrollment in a Maine community college in order to be eligible for free tuition in the
25 Maine Community College System.
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