HB 2072

                                                   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:
12ARTICLE XXVI-M
13TUITION 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
14Program.
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
24program.
25(ii)    The number of eligible students participating
26in the program.
27(iii)    The retention rates of eligible students
28participating in the program.
29(iv)    The number of eligible students who are
30participating in the program and have unmet financial
20250HB2072PN2655  - 3 -
1need.
2(v)    Recommendations on how to improve outreach to
3students who are or are potentially eligible for the
4program.
5(vi)     Recommendations on ways in which to improve the
6delivery of services to eligible students under section
72602-M(b).
8(vii)    Impediments to retaining eligible students
9under 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 -