PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island House of Representatives has approved a pilot program to provide tuition-free community college to in-state students.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 62-11 on Thursday to pass the measure calling for two years of free tuition for Community College of Rhode Island students.
The vote in favor of the pilot, which would cost $2.8 million in its first year, came as part of deliberations over a $9.2 billion state budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. It must still be considered by the state Senate.
The pilot is a scaled-back version of a costlier proposal that had been championed by Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo. That plan would have also provided free tuition for the third and fourth years at the state’s four-year public colleges.
Republicans voted against the proposal.
