(Radio Iowa) - A bill that would freeze undergraduate tuition at Iowa's three public universities for five years has been approved by the Iowa House -- on an 86-to-five vote.
The tuition rate set for this fall at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa would be in place through July of 2031 if the bill becomes law. Representative Taylor Collins, a Republican from Mediapolis, says it would give students predictability and push the universities to cut costs. Democrats like Representative Adam Zabner of Iowa City have recently proposed freezing students' tuition, but they also argue the state support Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I needs to increase.
The House approved a separate a bill Tuesday that would require at least 70 percent of the students admitted to the University of Iowa Nursing School be Iowa residents.