# Connecticut SB 01297: AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STATUTES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. Connecticut SB 01297, AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STATUTES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee; status signed, last action 2025-06-09 (Signed by the Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB01297-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Connecticut SB 01297 - State: Connecticut - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STATUTES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-13 - Last action: 2025-06-09, Signed by the Governor - Sponsor: Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: higher education and employment advancement - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (211 yes, 24 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 15 ## Summary To update references in the general statutes to the regional community-technical colleges to Connecticut State Community College and to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System and the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges to the Board of Regents for Higher Education. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Tuition waivers help eligible college students: benefit, high. Connecticut State Community College must waive tuition for eligible veterans, Guard members, State Police Academy students, and specified dependents or surviving spouses. Covered families include those of qualifying POW/MIA service members, fallen public employees, terrorist victims, and service me… - College aid funds and textbook access: benefit, medium. The Board of Regents must reserve tuition revenue for waivers, tuition reductions, education grants, and student jobs under its tuition policy. It may reserve another 1% of tuition revenue for students with financial need who otherwise would not qualify for aid. Eligible students must be Connecticu… - Service members can repeat interrupted courses: benefit, medium. Community college students called to active duty during a semester can repeat courses they paid for but could not finish. They pay no additional tuition, student fees, or related charges for those courses. They must reenroll within four years after release from active duty and cannot have been full… - Unemployed residents get job training access: benefit, medium. The Board of Regents must develop a program giving unemployed Connecticut residents access to short-term community college training. These noncredit programs teach job skills and provide workforce credentials. The law does not specify a cash payment or promise free tuition. - College property donors gain liability protection: benefit, low. People donating tangible property to Connecticut State Community College or its campuses gain protection from certain civil claims. It covers damage or injury resulting from the donor's act, error, or omission concerning the property. Donations must occur on or after July 1, 2023, and harm on or af… - Community college cannot charge graduation fees: benefit, low. The Board of Regents cannot charge Connecticut State Community College students a fee for graduating. The law does not state the amount of the avoided charge. - High school students gain college pathways: benefit, low. Each semester since fall 2020, public-high-school advanced manufacturing certificate programs must enroll eligible 11th- and 12th-graders from districts with required agreements. Students can earn high school and college credits and a certificate. Community college or independent college operators… - College magnet schools qualify for grants: benefit, low. The Board of Regents can seek magnet-school grants for eligible college programs, including the Quinebaug Valley and Three Rivers campuses. Broader community college and state university eligibility requires an Education Commissioner finding that programs help meet Sheff school-desegregation obliga… - Colleges must maintain campus safety systems: benefit, low. State higher-education units and independent colleges must submit current campus security plans to the state emergency services department. They must review plans every two years with campus police or security leaders and submit needed revisions by August 1. Plans must address educating staff to re… - Nursing campuses can fund more faculty: benefit, low. Up to four community college campuses can receive nursing faculty expansion aid for up to two years. Annual aid cannot exceed $75,000 or the campus's secured nonstate funding, whichever is less. Campuses must submit an expansion plan, signed hospital or health-care partner commitments, and funding… - Campus funds support scholarships and equipment: benefit, low. Eligible gifts go into separate permanent endowments for community college campuses or the college as a whole. Each year, campuses receive a share of state grants and earnings, including capital gains, proportional to their eligible gifts. Required transfers occur within 30 days after the state gra… - Campus leaders gain purchasing and hiring powers: benefit, low. Campus leaders can buy equipment, supplies, and services, make personal-service agreements, and lease personal property without three state officials' approval. They must consult the administrative services commissioner and follow governing-board policies adopted with public input. Those policies r… - Regional nonresident students face tuition floor: cost, high. Nonresident students in the New England Regional Student Program must pay at least 150% of resident tuition for similar programs. The Board of Regents and UConn's board set these rates. This minimum applies to that regional program, not all nonresident students. - State can take land for campuses: cost, medium. Beginning June 9, 2025, the state can take land or land interests to expand certain educational sites. Covered sites include state universities, the Technical Education and Career System, and technical colleges. State planning requirements apply, and damages are determined under the state's land-ta… - Community college campuses get governance rules: mixed, low. The Board of Regents administers Connecticut State Community College, sets policies and programs, and employs campus staff. It must establish campuses serving southeastern Connecticut, New Britain-Bristol, northeastern Connecticut, northern Connecticut, the lower Naugatuck Valley, and greater Water… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | Senate Roll Call Vote 100 | pass | 36 | 0 | | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | Senate Roll Call Vote 99 | pass | 11 | 24 | | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass | 18 | 0 | | | 2025-03-13 | House | House Roll Call Vote 180 | pass | 146 | 0 | | ## Actions (19) - 2025-06-09: Signed by the Governor (legislature) - 2025-06-03: Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor (legislature) - 2025-06-03: Transmitted to the Secretary of State (legislature) - 2025-05-30: Public Act 25-22 (legislature) - 2025-05-22: In Concurrence (legislature) - 2025-05-22: House Passed (House) - 2025-05-01: House Calendar Number 518 (House) - 2025-05-01: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House (House) - 2025-04-30: Senate Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-30: Senate Rejected Senate Amendment Schedule A 7622 (Senate) - 2025-04-01: File Number 376 (legislature) - 2025-04-01: Senate Calendar Number 227 (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature) - 2025-03-25: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/25 5:00 PM (legislature) - 2025-03-17: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature) - 2025-03-13: Joint Favorable Substitute (legislature) - 2025-02-14: Public Hearing 02/20 (legislature) - 2025-02-13: Referred to Joint Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement (legislature) ## Bill text - Public Act No. 25-22, 2025-05-30: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF/2025PA-00022-R00SB-01297-PA.PDF) - File No. 376, 2025-04-01: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/FC/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-FC.PDF) - HED Joint Favorable Substitute, 2025-03-13: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R01-SB.PDF) - Raised Bill, 2025-02-13: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00-SB.PDF) - Bill Analysis For File Copy 376: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/BA/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-BA.PDF) - Fiscal Note For File Copy 376: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/FN/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-FN.PDF) - Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 7622 (See Fiscal Note Details): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/fna/pdf/2025SB-01297-R00LCO07622-FNA.PDF) - HED Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/JFR/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00HED-JFR.PDF) - HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TS/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00HED-CV52-TS.PDF) - House Roll Call Vote 180: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/H/PDF/2025HV-00180-R00SB01297-HV.PDF) - Senate Roll Call Vote 100: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/S/PDF/2025SV-00100-R00SB01297-SV.PDF) - Senate Roll Call Vote 99: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/S/PDF/2025SV-00099-R00SB01297-SV.PDF) - Senate Schedule A LCO# 7622 (R): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/amd/S/pdf/2025SB-01297-R00SA-AMD.pdf) - Summary for Public Act No. 25-22: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/SUM/PDF/2025SUM00022-R01SB-01297-SUM.PDF) ## Related bills - HB 05013: AN ACT ADDING CERTAIN PLANTS TO THE INVASIVE PLANTS LIST. (signed) - SB 01558: AN ACT CONCERNING INCOME TAXES IMPOSED BY OTHER JURISDICTIONS ON RESIDENTS OF THE STATE. (signed) - SB 01396: AN ACT CONCERNING EARNED BUT UNPAID WAGE OR SALARY INCOME ADVANCES. (signed) - SB 01187: AN ACT CONCERNING FORECLOSURE, ASSIGNMENT AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR UNPAID SEWER ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER FEES AND CHARGES. (signed) - HB 07236: AN ACT CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. (signed) - HB 07192: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BIPARTISAN DRUG TASK FORCE. (signed) ## Sources - [Public Act No. 25-22 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF/2025PA-00022-R00SB-01297-PA.PDF) - [File No. 376 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/FC/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-FC.PDF) - [HED Joint Favorable Substitute (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R01-SB.PDF) - [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00-SB.PDF) - [Bill Analysis For File Copy 376 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/BA/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-BA.PDF) - [Fiscal Note For File Copy 376 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/FN/PDF/2025SB-01297-R000376-FN.PDF) - [Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 7622 (See Fiscal Note Details) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/fna/pdf/2025SB-01297-R00LCO07622-FNA.PDF) - [HED Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/JFR/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00HED-JFR.PDF) - [HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TS/S/PDF/2025SB-01297-R00HED-CV52-TS.PDF) - [House Roll Call Vote 180 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/H/PDF/2025HV-00180-R00SB01297-HV.PDF) - [Senate Roll Call Vote 100 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/S/PDF/2025SV-00100-R00SB01297-SV.PDF) - [Senate Roll Call Vote 99 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/S/PDF/2025SV-00099-R00SB01297-SV.PDF) - [Senate Schedule A LCO# 7622 (R) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/amd/S/pdf/2025SB-01297-R00SA-AMD.pdf) - [Summary for Public Act No. 25-22 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/SUM/PDF/2025SUM00022-R01SB-01297-SUM.PDF) ## Related - [HB 05013: AN ACT ADDING CERTAIN PLANTS TO THE INVASIVE PLANTS LIST.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05013-2025) - [SB 01558: AN ACT CONCERNING INCOME TAXES IMPOSED BY OTHER JURISDICTIONS ON RESIDENTS OF T…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB01558-2025) - [SB 01396: AN ACT CONCERNING EARNED BUT UNPAID WAGE OR SALARY INCOME ADVANCES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB01396-2025) - [SB 01187: AN ACT CONCERNING FORECLOSURE, ASSIGNMENT AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR UNP…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB01187-2025) - [HB 07236: AN ACT CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB07236-2025) - [HB 07192: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BIPARTISAN DRUG TASK FORCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB07192-2025) - [Connecticut bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/connecticut/bills) - [Connecticut state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/connecticut) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB01297-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).