An Act to Promote Student Enrollment and Degree Completion in the University of Maine System by Providing Tuition Waivers to Eligible Students
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0512
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TIPPING, OSHER, MILLETT, RANA, SAYRE

Legislative Document
No. 512
S.P. 229
In Senate, February 9, 2023
An Act to Promote Student Enrollment and Degree Completion in 
the University of Maine System by Providing Tuition Waivers to 
Eligible Students
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative OSHER of Orono and
Representatives: MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth, RANA of Bangor, SAYRE of Kennebunk.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Tuition waiver for eligible students at the University of Maine 
System.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State shall provide the 
funding necessary to provide a tuition waiver equal to 50% of the costs of tuition at a 
campus of the University of Maine System for up to 4 years to an eligible student in 
accordance with this section.
1. For the purposes of this section, an eligible student is:
A. A high school graduate in the class of 2023, 2024 or 2025 who enrolls at a campus 
of the University of Maine System in the fall of 2023, 2024 or 2025; or
B. A person who obtains the equivalent of a high school diploma in 2023, 2024 or 2025 
who enrolls at a campus of the University of Maine System in the fall of 2023, 2024 or 
2025.
2. In order to receive the tuition waiver, an eligible student must:
A. Be enrolled at a campus of the University of Maine System full time;
B. Pursue an associate or bachelor's degree or academic credential;
C. Live in the State at the time of enrollment at a campus of the University of Maine 
System and for the duration of that enrollment; 
D. Accept all available federal and state grants, scholarships and other sources of 
funding; and
E. In the 2nd and subsequent years of enrollment, maintain a grade point average of at 
least 2.0.
Sec. 2.  Returning student degree completion tuition waiver.  Notwithstanding 
any provision of law to the contrary, the State shall provide the funding necessary to 
provide a returning student degree completion tuition waiver equal to 50% of the costs of 
tuition for up to one year at a campus of the University of Maine System to an eligible 
student in accordance with this section.
1. For the purposes of this section, an eligible student:
A. May not have been enrolled at any campus of the University of Maine System in 
the 2022-2023 school year;
B. Must have resided in the State for at least 5 years; and
C. Must be 30 or fewer credit hours away from degree completion.
2. A returning student degree completion tuition waiver may be applied only for the 
2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school years.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Annually for 3 years, no later than October 1, 2023, 2024 and 2025, 
the University of Maine System shall submit a report to the Governor and the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on the use and 
success of the tuition waivers in this Act.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes 2 tuition waivers for students enrolled at a campus of the 
University of Maine System. The first tuition waiver provides 50% tuition for up to 4 years 
for a full-time student who is a high school graduate in the class of 2023, 2024 or 2025 or 
obtains the equivalent of a high school diploma in 2023, 2024 or 2025.  The 2nd tuition 
waiver provides 50% tuition for up to one year for returning students who have resided in 
the State for at least 5 years and are 30 or fewer credit hours away from degree completion. 
The bill also requires the University of Maine System to report on the use and success of 
the tuition waivers.