An Act relative to higher education tuition and fee waivers for seniors

This bill creates a one-year pilot program (July 2025-June 2026) offering tuition and fee waivers at Massachusetts public colleges and universities for seniors aged 60 and older. It directly affects qualifying seniors enrolled in undergraduate programs, summer sessions, evening classes, or specific courses, with a limit of four courses per academic year and availability-based enrollment. Institutions must report lost tuition revenue to the state by August 2026, after which the Comptroller reimburses them from the General Fund. The total reimbursement amount established during the pilot will set the annual funding level for future senior tuition waivers in the state budget starting fiscal year 2027. The program applies to all state universities, community colleges, and University of Massachusetts campuses.