Congress expands college access for territorial residents with in-state tuition mandate

What it does

This bill amends federal higher education law to require public colleges and universities that receive federal aid to charge in-state tuition rates to residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—instead of the higher out-of-state rates they currently charge. The bill defines eligible students as U.S. nationals from those territories who meet residency requirements.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is a tuition-rate mandate for a defined population (territorial residents), designed to reduce cost barriers to higher education. It is a straightforward access-and-affordability measure with no hidden riders or narrow beneficiaries.

What the text implies

• Public institutions in states with large territorial-resident populations may experience measurable revenue loss if enrollment from these territories increases; institutions may respond by adjusting other fees or reducing services.
• The bill applies only to public institutions receiving federal aid; private colleges and for-profit institutions are unaffected, potentially creating a two-tier system where territorial residents benefit only at public schools.
• Compliance is tied to federal aid participation (section 487 amendment), meaning institutions that decline federal funding could theoretically opt out—though this is unlikely given the scale of federal higher-education funding.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Territorial residents gain direct financial access to higher education by eliminating the out-of-state tuition premium, reducing a significant cost barrier. Public institutions absorb the revenue loss, but the bill serves a broad public interest (educational access for U.S. citizens in underserved territories) rather than a narrow private benefit.

Who stands to gain

• Residents of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands (reduced tuitio

Named in the bill

Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, United States Virgin Islands, Public institutions of higher education, Higher Education Act of 1965, Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. Department of Education

Where it stands

5 cosponsors: 3 Democrats, 2 Republicans.

• Dec 4, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Dec 4, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce”
• Dec 11, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Dec 11, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 1”
• Mar 3, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”
• Mar 4, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required)…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 1 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Dec 2025 to Dec 2025. Those filings disclosed $33,501 in lobbying spend. A filing names 36 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

James (Jim) Moylan, the sponsor, reported $40,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Council on Education — $33,501 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jan 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.