Immigrant rights advocates had been working for over a decade on the issue until the Legislature finally passed HB 2787 this session, promoting equal access to education for all eligible Oregonians regardless of citizenship status. Introduced with strong bipartisan support from members in both the House and the Senate, HB 2787 enables Oregonians who have grown up in Oregon but are unable to prove lawful presence in the country to still apply for in-state tuition at Oregon colleges and universities.
Students taking advantage of tuition equity are eligible if they attended an Oregon school during the three years prior to high school graduation, attended any school in the U.S. during the five years prior to high school graduation, received a high school diploma from Oregon, and demonstrate intent to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident in this country.
Affordable college education for all students who graduate from high schools in Oregon, regardless of citizenship status, furthers principles of fundamental fairness. Undocumented students who benefit from the bill are, by and large, talented high achievers who arrived in Oregon as children, grew up in Oregon, and persevered against the odds to graduate from high school and secure admission to an Oregon college or university.
The trend nationwide is moving toward acceptance and encouragement of these young students and, with its support of HB 2787, the Legislature joined a list of other states passing tuition equity bills this session. We were proud to support this bill and to work alongside our coalition partners including educators, business and faith leaders, and immigrant rights groups, to move the bill through the legislative process.
VICTORY! PASSED
Vote: 38-18-4 House
19-11 Senate
SCORECARD VOTE
