HB 2072 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Tuition Waiver for Native American Students Program.

PRINTER'S NO.   2655

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2072
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY RABB, SMITH-WADE-EL, RIVERA, PROBST AND SANCHEZ,
        NOVEMBER 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 3, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," establishing the Tuition Waiver for
 6      Native American Students Program.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11   article to read:
12                               ARTICLE XXVI-M
13             TUITION WAIVER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS
14   Section 2601-M.    Definitions.
15      The following words and phrases when used in this article
16   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17   context clearly indicates otherwise:
18      "Applicant."    An eligible student who applies for a tuition
19   waiver.
20      "Department."    The Department of Education of the
 1   Commonwealth.
 2      "Eligible student."     A student who is attending or has been
 3   accepted to attend an institution of higher education and who is
 4   an active member of an eligible tribe.
 5      "Eligible tribe."      A Native American tribe that was
 6   originally located on the land that is now this Commonwealth or
 7   that had members who were enrolled at the Carlisle Industrial
 8   Indian School as determined by the department.
 9      "Institution of higher education."      An institution as defined
10   in section 2001-A.
11      "Program."     The Tuition Waiver for Native American Students
12   Program established by this article.
13   Section 2602-M.     Tuition Waiver for Native American Students
14                  Program.
15      (a)   Establishment.--The Tuition Waiver for Native American
16   Students Program is established in the department. Beginning
17   with the first fall semester following the effective date of
18   this section, an institution of higher education shall waive
19   tuition for an eligible student who qualifies for admission.
20      (b)   Eligibility.--To qualify for a tuition waiver, an
21   applicant must:
22            (1)   Submit an application to an institution of higher
23      education.
24            (2)   Be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at
25      the institution of higher education.
26            (3)   Be an active member of an eligible tribe on the list
27      published under section 2603-M.
28   Section 2603-M.     List of eligible tribes.
29      The department shall:
30            (1)   Develop a list of eligible tribes within 30 days of

20250HB2072PN2655                     - 2 -
 1      the effective date of this section.
 2            (2)   Publish the list of eligible tribes on its publicly
 3      accessible Internet website within 30 days of the development
 4      of the list.
 5   Section 2604-M.        Outreach.
 6      (a)   Duties of department.--The department shall by January
 7   1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter, prepare and provide
 8   information for dissemination by the department and institutions
 9   of higher education that:
10            (1)   Describes the availability of the program.
11            (2)   Explains how to participate in the program.
12      (b)   Duties of institutions of higher education.--An
13   institution of higher education shall:
14            (1)   Provide technical assistance to eligible students
15      under section 2602-M(b) in completing admissions applications
16      and financial aid applications.
17            (2)   Post the information prepared under subsection (a)
18      on the institution of higher education's publicly accessible
19      Internet website.
20            (3)   To improve retention, report to the department by
21      June 30, 2027, and each June 30 thereafter, all of the
22      following:
23                  (i)    The number of students who apply for the
24            program.
25                  (ii)    The number of eligible students participating
26            in the program.
27                  (iii)    The retention rates of eligible students
28            participating in the program.
29                  (iv)    The number of eligible students who are
30            participating in the program and have unmet financial

20250HB2072PN2655                       - 3 -
 1            need.
 2                (v)    Recommendations on how to improve outreach to
 3            students who are or are potentially eligible for the
 4            program.
 5                (vi)     Recommendations on ways in which to improve the
 6            delivery of services to eligible students under section
 7            2602-M(b).
 8                (vii)    Impediments to retaining eligible students
 9            under section 2602-M(b).
10      (c)   Limitations.--The department may not require any other
11   information to be provided by an institution of higher education
12   except as provided under subsection (b)(3).
13      Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB2072PN2655                      - 4 -