HB 142 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Service Member and Veteran Amendments

HB 142 removes the standard one-year residency requirement for in-state tuition at Utah's public colleges and universities for active-duty military members, military veterans, and their immediate family members (spouses and dependent children). Instead of needing to establish Utah residency for a full year, eligible individuals can qualify for in-state rates by providing military documentation like service IDs, orders, or a commander's statement. The bill amends Utah Code Section 53B-8-102 to mandate this change across all state higher education institutions. This policy directly affects military personnel, veterans, and their families attending Utah schools, eliminating a financial barrier to education.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 15 edits · Mar 26, 2025
MAJOR
This bill amends Utah's in-state tuition residency requirements to expand eligibility for military service members, veterans, and their family members. The changes remove previous residency restrictions for these groups and clarify documentation requirements for claiming resident student status.
Scope change
Expanded eligibility for in-state tuition to include military service members, veterans, and their immediate family members regardless of whether they served in Utah
ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement that military service members must be physically present in Utah to qualify for in-state tuition

Added eligibility for foreign service members and their immediate family members for in-state tuition

Added eligibility for special immigrant visa recipients, refugees, and other aliens with specific immigration status

Added eligibility for Job Corps students and Olympic athlete training participants

Added eligibility for individuals who married Utah residents and established domicile

Added eligibility for dependents with at least one parent domiciled in Utah for 12 months

Added provisions for individuals who moved to Utah for full-time permanent employment

Added provisions for individuals who moved to Utah due to divorce, death, or health care responsibilities

Added eligibility for American Indians enrolled on tribal rolls with reservations in or contiguous to Utah

Added eligibility for aliens who attended and graduated from Utah high schools

REQUIREMENT

Updated documentation requirements for military service members and veterans to include various proof of status and assignment

Added specific evidence requirements for foreign service members and their family members

Added provisions for retaining eligibility when foreign service members change duty stations

DEFINITION

Added definition for 'Parent' as a student's biological or adoptive parent

TECHNICAL

Made technical formatting and conforming changes to the statute structure

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 26, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 28, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors