HB 177

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 177
1ROTC Resident Student Status
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Jill Koford
  Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill requires state institutions of higher education to grant resident student status for
6  tuition purposes to a student who participates in the institution's Reserve Officers' Training
7  Corps.
8  Highlighted Provisions:
9      This bill:
10      ▸ defines terms;
11      ▸ requires state institutions of higher education to grant resident student status for tuition
12  purposes to a student who participates in the institution's Reserve Officers' Training
13  Corps; and
14      ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
15  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16      None
17  Other Special Clauses:
18      This bill provides a special effective date.
19  Utah Code Sections Affected:
20  AMENDS:
21      53H-11-202, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session,
22      Chapter 8
23
24  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25Section 1. Section 53H-11-202 is amended to read:
2653H-11-202 . Resident student status -- Definitions -- Exceptions.
27  (1) As used in this section:
28      (a) "DOD civilian" means an employee of the United States Department of Defense who
H.B. 177  Enrolled Copy
29is assigned to perform the employee's duties at a military organization based in Utah.
30(b) "Eligible person" means an individual who is entitled to post-secondary educational
31benefits under Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, U.S.C.
32(c) "Immediate family member" means an individual's spouse or dependent child.
33(d) "Inmate" means the same as that term is defined in Section 64-13-1.
34(e) "Military service member" means an individual who:
35(i) is serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces;
36(ii) is a member of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces; or
37(iii) is a member of the National Guard.
38(f) "Military veteran" means a veteran as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12.5.
39(g) "National Guard" means the same as that term is defined in Section 39A-1-102.
40(h) "Parent" means a student's biological or adoptive parent.
41(i) "ROTC participant" means a student who is:
42(i) enrolled at an institution;
43(ii) participates in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at an institution; and
44(iii) is eligible to enlist in a branch of the United States military.
45   (2) The meaning of "resident student" is determined by reference to the general law on the
46subject of domicile, except as provided in this section.
47   (3)(a) Institutions may grant resident student status to any student who has come to Utah
48and established residency for the purpose of attending an institution of higher
49education, and who, prior to registration as a resident student:
50(i) has maintained continuous Utah residency status for one full year;
51(ii) has signed a written declaration that the student has relinquished residency in any
52other state; and
53(iii) has submitted objective evidence that the student has taken overt steps to
54establish permanent residency in Utah and that the student does not maintain a
55residence elsewhere.
56(b) Evidence to satisfy the requirements under Subsection (3)(a)(iii) includes:
57(i) a Utah high school transcript issued in the past year confirming attendance at a
58Utah high school in the past 12 months;
59(ii) a Utah voter registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
60(iii) a Utah driver license or identification card with an original date of issue or a
61renewal date several months prior to application;
62(iv) a Utah vehicle registration dated a reasonable period prior to application;
  -2-
Enrolled Copy  H.B. 177
63(v) evidence of employment in Utah for a reasonable period prior to application;
64(vi) proof of payment of Utah resident income taxes for the previous year;
65(vii) a rental agreement showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12
66months prior to application; and
67(viii) utility bills showing the student's name and Utah address for at least 12 months
68prior to application.
69      (c) A student who is claimed as a dependent on the tax returns of a person who is not a
70resident of Utah is not eligible to apply for resident student status.
71  (4) Except as provided in Subsection (8), an institution within the state system of higher
72      education may establish stricter criteria for determining resident student status.
73  (5) If an institution does not have a minimum credit-hour requirement, that institution shall
74      honor the decision of another institution within the state system of higher education to
75      grant a student resident student status, unless:
76      (a) the student obtained resident student status under false pretenses; or
77      (b) the facts existing at the time of the granting of resident student status have changed.
78  (6) Within the limits established in this chapter, each institution within the state system of
79      higher education may, regardless of its policy on obtaining resident student status, waive
80      nonresident tuition either in whole or in part, but not other fees.
81  (7) In addition to the waivers of nonresident tuition under Subsection (6), each institution
82      may, as athletic scholarships, grant full waiver of fees and nonresident tuition, up to the
83      maximum number allowed by the appropriate athletic conference as recommended by
84      the president of each institution.
85  (8) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an institution shall grant resident student status for
86      tuition purposes to:
87      (a) a military service member, if the military service member provides:
88(i) the military service member's current United States military identification card;
89(ii) a leave and earning statement of the military service member;
90(iii) the military service member's military orders;
91(iv) documentation of enlistment by the military service member; or
92(v) a statement from the military service member's current commander stating that
93the military service member is currently serving in the military;
94      (b) a military service member's immediate family member, if the military service
95member's immediate family member provides:
96(i) any of the documentation described in Subsection (8)(a); or
  -3-
 H.B. 177  Enrolled Copy
97(ii) the immediate family member's current United States military identification card;
98      (c) a military veteran, regardless of whether the military veteran served in Utah, if the
99military veteran provides evidence of an honorable or general discharge;
100      (d) a military veteran's immediate family member, regardless of whether the military
101veteran served in Utah, if the military veteran's immediate family member provides
102evidence of the military veteran's honorable or general discharge;
103      (e) a foreign service member as defined in the Foreign Service Family Act of 2021 who
104is either:
105(i) domiciled in Utah, recognizing the individual may not be physically present in the
106state due to an assignment; or
107(ii) assigned to a duty station in Utah if the foreign service member provides:
108(A) evidence of the foreign service member's status;
109(B) a statement from the foreign service member's current commander, or
110equivalent, stating that the foreign service member is assigned in Utah; or
111(C) evidence that the foreign service member is domiciled in Utah;
112      (f) a foreign service member's immediate family member if the foreign service member
113is either:
114(i) domiciled in Utah, recognizing the individual may not be physically present in the
115state due to an assignment; or
116(ii) assigned to a duty station in Utah if the foreign service member provides:
117(A) evidence of the foreign service member's status;
118(B) a statement from the foreign service member's current commander, or
119equivalent, stating that the foreign service member is assigned in Utah; or
120(C) evidence that the foreign service member is domiciled in Utah;
121      (g) an eligible person who provides:
122(i) evidence of eligibility under Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, U.S.C.; and
123(ii) a signed written declaration that the eligible person will use the veteran benefits
124under Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, U.S.C.;
125      (h) an ROTC participant;
126      [(h)] (i) an alien who provides:
127(i) evidence that the alien is a special immigrant visa recipient;
128(ii) evidence that the alien has been granted refugee status, humanitarian parole,
129temporary protected status, or asylum; or
130(iii) evidence that the alien has submitted in good faith an application for refugee
  -4-
 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 177
131status, humanitarian parole, temporary protected status, or asylum under United
132States immigration law;
133      [(i)] (j) an inmate:
134(i) during the time the inmate is enrolled in the course; and
135(ii) for one year after the day on which the inmate is released from a correctional
136facility as defined in Section 64-13-1;
137      [(j)] (k) a DOD civilian, if the DOD civilian provides:
138(i) the DOD civilian's current United States Department of Defense identification
139card; and
140(ii)(A) a statement from the DOD civilian's current commander, or equivalent,
141stating that the DOD civilian is assigned in Utah; or
142(B) evidence that the DOD civilian is domiciled in Utah, as described in
143Subsection (9)(a); or
144      [(k)] (l) a DOD civilian's immediate family member, if the DOD civilian's immediate
145family member provides:
146(i) the DOD civilian's current United States Department of Defense identification
147card; and
148(ii)(A) a statement from the DOD civilian's current commander, or equivalent,
149stating that the DOD civilian is assigned in Utah; or
150(B) evidence that the DOD civilian is domiciled in Utah, as described in
151Subsection (9)(a).
152  (9)(a) The evidence described in Subsection [(8)(j)(ii)(B)] (8)(k)(ii)(B) or [(8)(k)(ii)(B)]
153      (8)(l)(ii)(B) includes:
154(i) a current Utah voter registration card;
155(ii) a valid Utah driver license or identification card;
156(iii) a current Utah vehicle registration;
157(iv) a copy of a Utah income tax return, in the name of the DOD civilian or DOD
158civilian's spouse, filed as a resident in accordance with Section 59-10-502; or
159(v) proof that the DOD civilian or DOD civilian's spouse owns a home in Utah,
160including a property tax notice for property owned in Utah.
161      (b) Aliens who are present in the United States on visitor, student, or other visas not
162listed in Subsection [(8)(h)] (8)(i) or (9)(c), which authorize only temporary presence
163in this country, do not have the capacity to intend to reside in Utah for an indefinite
164period and therefore are classified as nonresidents.
  -5-
 H.B. 177  Enrolled Copy
165(c) Aliens who have been granted or have applied for permanent resident status in the
166United States are classified for purposes of resident student status according to the
167same criteria applicable to citizens.
168   (10) Any American Indian who is enrolled on the tribal rolls of a tribe whose reservation or
169trust lands lie partly or wholly within Utah or whose border is at any point contiguous
170with the border of Utah, and any American Indian who is a member of a federally
171recognized or known Utah tribe and who has graduated from a high school in Utah, is
172entitled to resident student status.
173   (11) A Job Corps student is entitled to resident student status if the student:
174(a) is admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer school student in a program of study
175leading to a degree or certificate; and
176(b) submits verification that the student is a current Job Corps student.
177   (12) A person is entitled to resident student status and may immediately apply for resident
178student status if the person:
179(a) marries a Utah resident eligible to be a resident student under this section; and
180(b) establishes his or her domicile in Utah as demonstrated by objective evidence as
181provided in Subsection (3).
182   (13) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(c), a dependent student who has at least one parent
183who has been domiciled in Utah for at least 12 months prior to the student's application
184is entitled to resident student status.
185   (14)(a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for full-time permanent
186employment may rebut the presumption of a nonresident classification by providing
187substantial evidence that the reason for the individual's move to Utah was, in good
188faith, based on an employer requested transfer to Utah, recruitment by a Utah
189employer, or a comparable work-related move for full-time permanent employment
190in Utah.
191(b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
192including:
193(i) the person's employment and educational history;
194(ii) the dates when Utah employment was first considered, offered, and accepted;
195(iii) when the person moved to Utah;
196(iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled
197as a postsecondary student;
198(v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
  -6-
 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 177
199sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
200(vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
201(A) at least 24 years old; or
202(B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
203(vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
204of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher
205education.
206  (15)(a) A person who is in residence in Utah to participate in a United States Olympic
207      athlete training program, at a facility in Utah, approved by the governing body for the
208      athlete's Olympic sport, shall be entitled to resident status for tuition purposes.
209      (b) Upon the termination of the athlete's participation in the training program, the athlete
210shall be subject to the same residency standards applicable to other persons under this
211section.
212      (c) Time spent domiciled in Utah during the Olympic athlete training program in Utah
213counts for Utah residency for tuition purposes upon termination of the athlete's
214participation in a Utah Olympic athlete training program.
215  (16)(a) A person who has established domicile in Utah for reasons related to divorce, the
216      death of a spouse, or long-term health care responsibilities for an immediate family
217      member, including the person's spouse, parent, sibling, or child, may rebut the
218      presumption of a nonresident classification by providing substantial evidence that the
219      reason for the individual's move to Utah was, in good faith, based on the long-term
220      health care responsibilities.
221      (b) All relevant evidence concerning the motivation for the move shall be considered,
222including:
223(i) the person's employment and educational history;
224(ii) the dates when the long-term health care responsibilities in Utah were first
225considered, offered, and accepted;
226(iii) when the person moved to Utah;
227(iv) the dates when the person applied for admission, was admitted, and was enrolled
228as a postsecondary student;
229(v) whether the person applied for admission to an institution of higher education
230sooner than four months from the date of moving to Utah;
231(vi) evidence that the person is an independent person who is:
232(A) at least 24 years old; or
  -7-
 H.B. 177  Enrolled Copy
233(B) not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns; and
234(vii) any other factors related to abandonment of a former domicile and establishment
235of a new domicile in Utah for purposes other than to attend an institution of higher
236education.
237   (17) A foreign service member or the foreign service member's immediate family member
238deemed eligible for resident student status under Subsection (8)(e) or [(f)] (8)(f) shall
239retain the eligibility for resident student status if the foreign service member or
240immediate family member maintains continuous enrollment even in the case of a change
241in domicile or duty station.
242   (18) A DOD civilian or the DOD civilian's immediate family member deemed eligible for
243resident student status under Subsection [(8)(j)] (8)(k) or [(k)] (8)(l) shall retain the
244eligibility for resident student status if the DOD civilian or the DOD civilian's
245immediate family member maintains continuous enrollment even in the case of a change
246in domicile or duty station.
247   (19) The board, after consultation with the institutions, shall make rules not inconsistent
248with this section:
249(a) concerning the definition of resident and nonresident students;
250(b) establishing procedures for classifying and reclassifying students;
251(c) establishing criteria for determining and judging claims of residency or domicile;
252(d) establishing appeals procedures; and
253(e) other matters related to this section.
254   (20) A student shall be exempt from paying the nonresident portion of total tuition if the
255student:
256(a) is a foreign national legally admitted to the United States;
257(b) attended high school in this state for three or more years; and
258(c) graduated from a high school in this state or received the equivalent of a high school
259diploma in this state.
260Section 2. Effective Date.
261   This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
  -8-