Senate Bill S2049

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Enacts "SUNY for all: the New York State higher education equality act" to provide free tuition to students who attend SUNY

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 15, 2025	referred to higher education

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A890
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§355, 667, 669-h & 6304, Ed L; add §97-aaaa, St Fin L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S9139, A8080

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts "new deal for SUNY: the New York state higher education equality act" to provide free tuition to students who attend SUNY who are enrolled in academic coursework and are on track to graduate; establishes the state university tuition fund to reimburse the state university of New York for the cost of tuition for students who are eligible for free tuition.

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2049

SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
to providing free tuition to students who attend the state university of
New York

 
PURPOSE:

To provide a program for providing free tuition to undergraduate
in-state students attending the State University of New York

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 names the title of the bill.

Section 2 amends paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the
education law to require the trustees to eliminate tuition at four-year
colleges.

Section 3 amends section 667 of the education law to permit the redi-
rection of TAP funding into a new fund to cover the cost of tuition.

Section 4 adds a new subdivision 7 to section 669-h of the education law
to permit the redirection of Excelsior funding into a new fund to cover
the cost of tuition.

Section 5 amends subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law to
require the trustees to eliminate tuition at SUNY community colleges.

Section 6 adds a new paragraph A-1 to section 6304 the education law to
redirect funding necessary to cover the cost of community college
tuition.

Section 7 adds the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The State University of New York was founded in 1948, with the aim of
providing affordable higher education to individuals throughout the
state. However, over the years, the cost of attending SUNY has risen
substantially as state funding has decreased and tuition rates have
increased in order to cover expenses. Since 2011, public college
students have been charged nearly $4 billion more as a result of sched-
uled tuition hikes at SUNY and CUNY1. Today, over half of SUNY students
graduate in debt, with an average loan burden of nearly $30,000 2,
making it difficult for many students to afford a college degree. This
difficulty is directly reflected in declining enrollment with studies
showing that for every $100 increase in tuition, a 0.7% participation
drop should be expected and SUNY enrollment has decreased by over 80,000
students since 2012.3 Making SUNY free can attract more students to
attend, ultimately increasing enrollment and revenue for the university
system.

Over the same period of declining enrollment and increasing costs, a
college degree has become more and more essential in today's job market.
A college education can increase an individual's earning potential and
provide more employment opportunities. More than ever before, the New
York workforce requires a higher level of education to remain compet-
itive in the global economy, and our society has recognized this by
pushing for higher college enrollment rates.  However, the cost of this
investment in education can be too much for students who face debt
burdens that can take decades to repay. This debt can be a significant
hindrance to students when it comes to finding employment, buying a
home, or starting a family. This burden can also discourage students
from pursuing higher education altogether. By making SUNY free, we can
alleviate this burden and make higher education more accessible to all.

In addition, making public college free for New York students can help
address the income inequality that plagues our state. Income inequality
in New York is the worst in the country', and free public colleges can
help level the playing field. Families that cannot afford to send their
children to college currently face difficult decisions about borrowing
money, delaying retirement, or forgoing necessary expenses. This only
perpetuates the cycle of poverty, keeping people from breaking out of a
lower income bracket. In 2017, the promise of tuition-free SUNY was made
when New York announced the Excelsior program, claiming that 940,000
students would be eligible.' However, due to excessively strict eligi-
bility requirements, less than 10% of that number have received the
scholarship to date.' It is time to live up to that promise. Enacting
true free tuition in New York state would allow more people from low-in-
come families to attend college and potentially improve their standard
of living.

Aside from the individual benefits, making SUNY free also has signif-
icant economic benefits. SUNY plays a crucial role in the economic and
social development of New York State. Its institutions educate about
half of the state's nurses' and over 25% of its teachers.' Additionally,
SUNY is the primary institution training the state's future leaders in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. SUNY's
research and development initiatives also contribute to the state's
economic growth, with its institutions receiving more than $1 billion in
research funding annually. By providing access to a college education
for all, New York can invest in its future workforce and promote econom-
ic growth.  Graduates of SUNY often become entrepreneurs, innovators,
and leaders in their respective fields, ultimately contributing to the
New York economy. The average bachelor's degree holder contributes
$278,000 more to local economies than the average high school graduate
through direct spending over the course of a lifetime; and an associate
degree holder contributes $81,000 more than a high school graduate.' For
every $1 invested in SUNY, New York State's economy benefits the equiv-
alent of $8.17 and is responsible for nearly 2% of the gross state prod-
uct.

In light of the Supreme Court's recent decisions on student debt relief
and affirmative action policies, the best way to ensure and even
increase opportunities for higher education among black and minority New
Yorkers is to eliminate restrictive and onerous criteria for financial
aid and simply provide free access statewide. Universal access to educa-
tion is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of democracy. Educa-
tion empowers students and helps them build better lives. It is impor-
tant both for individuals and the future wellbeing of the state that all
students are given the opportunity to pursue the best education they are
capable of, regardless of their financial situation. Establishing free

tuition for in-state students has demonstrably beneficial outcomes for
the state of its residents.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
1 https://wwvv.nypirg.org/pubs/202003/Policy_Close-Up_1_HigherEd_
Mar2020_Final.pdf
2 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED613860.pdf
3 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2023/03/01/ suny-
chancellor-weighs-in-on-dropping-student-enrollment--
4 https://fiscalpolicy.org/ inequality-in-new-york-options-
forprogressive- tax-reform
5 https://www.ny.gov/programs/ tuition-free-degree-program-
excelsiorscholarship
6
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/27/new-york-made-4-years-of-collegefree-her
es-how-its-going.html
7 https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/3-23/3-27-23-nursing/
legislation.html
8 https://wvvvv.suny.edu/sunypp/documents.cfm?doc_jd=220
9 www.brookings.edu/research/what-colleges-do-for- local-economies-adi-
rect- measure-based-on-consumption/
10 https://rockinst.org/issue-area/theeconomic-impact- of-the-stateuniv-
ersity-of-new-yorki leginfo.state.ny.us/asmsen/navigate.cgi?NVDTO:3/3

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2049
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  WEBB  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
   to providing free tuition to students who attend the state  university
   of New York

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "new  deal  for
 SUNY: the New York state higher education equality act".
   §  2. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law
 is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a to read as follows:
   (1-A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE  OR  REGULATION
 TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE TRUSTEES SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY
 STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO A  STATE-OPERATED  INSTITUTION  OF  THE
 STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW YORK TO ATTEND WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF TUITION
 AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT  FULFILLS  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  SUCH  PROGRAM
 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
   (I)  THE  TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY STUDENT ELIGIBLE  FOR  RESI-
 DENT  TUITION  RATES, WHO IS ENROLLED IN CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSE-
 WORK AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE.
   (II) ANY STUDENT NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING  CREDIT-BEARING  ACADEMIC
 COURSEWORK  IN  A  SEMESTER SHALL STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ALL OTHER
 GRANTS, AWARDS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WHICH THEY QUALIFY BUT SHALL NOT BE
 ELIGIBLE FOR THE TUITION AND STUDENT FEE WAIVER DESCRIBED HEREIN.
   (III) STUDENTS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A ONE  SEMESTER  EXEMPTION
 FROM  THE REQUIREMENT TO COMPLETE CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSEWORK FOR
 SUCH TUITION WAIVER AS PROMULGATED BY THE TRUSTEES. SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL
 NOT PRECLUDE ANY STUDENT FROM EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO APPEAL  PURSUANT
 TO HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION POLICY.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02101-01-5
 S. 2049                             2

 
   (IV) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO
 THE  CONTRARY  SUBJECT  TO  AMOUNTS  MADE  AVAILABLE  BY  APPROPRIATION,
 COMMENCING IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF
 THIS  SUBDIVISION, AND EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR THEREAFTER, THE STATE UNIVER-
 SITY   SHALL  BE  ENTITLED  TO  ANNUALLY  RECEIVE  ONE  HUNDRED  PERCENT
 REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL COST OF TUITION AND STUDENT FEES  FOR  EACH
 MATRICULATED  UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT A STATE UNIVERSITY SENIOR COLLEGE
 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHO IS ENROLLED IN CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSE-
 WORK AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM THE FUND ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-AAAA OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   §  3.  Section  667  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
   1-A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO
 THE CONTRARY, COMMENCING IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR  THEREAFTER,  ALL
 FUNDING  APPROPRIATED  FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AWARDS PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND SPECIFIED IN SECTION NINE-
 TY-SEVEN-AAAA OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   § 4. Section 669-h of the education law is amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   7.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO
 THE CONTRARY, COMMENCING IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR  THEREAFTER,  ALL
 FUNDING  APPROPRIATED  FOR  THE  EXCELSIOR  SCHOLARSHIP PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND SPECIFIED  IN  SECTION  NINETY-
 SEVEN-AAAA OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   §  5. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
   E. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR  REGULATION  TO
 THE  CONTRARY,  THE  TRUSTEES,  SPONSORS,  OR  OTHER GOVERNING BODY OF A
 COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT  ANY  STUDENT  WHO
 HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO A STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTION OF THE STATE UNIVERSI-
 TY  TO  ATTEND  WITHOUT  THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT
 FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF
 THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (I)  THE  TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM WHICH SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY STUDENT ELIGIBLE  FOR  RESI-
 DENT  TUITION  RATES, WHO IS ENROLLED IN CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSE-
 WORK AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE.
   (II) ANY STUDENT NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING  CREDIT-BEARING  ACADEMIC
 COURSEWORK  IN  A  SEMESTER SHALL STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ALL OTHER
 GRANTS, AWARDS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WHICH THEY QUALIFY BUT SHALL NOT BE
 ELIGIBLE FOR THE TUITION AND STUDENT FEE WAIVER DESCRIBED HEREIN.
   (III) STUDENTS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A ONE  SEMESTER  EXEMPTION
 FROM  THE REQUIREMENT TO COMPLETE CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSEWORK FOR
 SUCH TUITION WAIVER AS PROMULGATED BY THE TRUSTEES. SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL
 NOT PRECLUDE ANY STUDENT FROM EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO APPEAL  PURSUANT
 TO HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION POLICY.
   §  6. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph a-1 to read as follows:
   A-1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO
 THE CONTRARY, STATE FINANCIAL AID SHALL BE INCREASED ABOVE THE ONE-THIRD
 AMOUNT OF OPERATING COSTS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH A OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION
 BY  AN  AMOUNT WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE COST OF TUITION AWARDED TO STUDENTS
 WHO APPLY AND QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH E  OF  THIS
 S. 2049                             3
 
 SUBDIVISION  AND  SUCH AID SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND SPECIFIED IN
 SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-AAAA OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   §  7. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-aaaa
 to read as follows:
   § 97-AAAA. STATE UNIVERSITY TUITION FUND. 1. THERE  IS  HEREBY  ESTAB-
 LISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSION-
 ER  OF  TAXATION  AND FINANCE A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE UNIVERSITY
 TUITION FUND.
   2. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE STATE PURSUANT  TO
 SUBPARAGRAPH  ONE-A  OF  PARAGRAPH H OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION THREE
 HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, MONEYS DONATED OR GIVEN TO  THE
 STATE, AND ALL OTHER MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED THERE-
 TO FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE.
   3.  MONEYS  OF THE FUND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF
 EDUCATION TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK  AND
 SHALL  BE  DEPOSITED WITH THE STATE UNIVERSITY NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
 AFTER THE START OF THE SEMESTER. THE STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL  RECEIVE  AN
 AMOUNT  EQUAL  TO  THE  FULL  COST OF IN-STATE UNDERGRADUATE TUITION AND
 STUDENT FEES FOR EACH QUALIFYING, MATRICULATED STUDENT WHO  SUCCESSFULLY
 COMPLETES CREDIT-BEARING ACADEMIC COURSEWORK AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE
 FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
   4. THE FULL COST OF TUITION SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS THE
 STUDENT  MAY  RECEIVE  FROM  ANY  OTHER NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL GRANT,
 AWARD, OR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
   5. THE DEPOSIT OF THESE FUNDS SHALL BE UTILIZED AS FIRST DOLLAR AWARDS
 TO THE STUDENTS AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
   § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S2049

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

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2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Lea Webb

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Actions

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S2049 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments