“Thousands of immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and are lawfully authorized to work call Georgia home. As longtime residents and valued members of our state, they should be eligible for the same in-state tuition rates as other individuals who have established residency. House Bill 888 would go a long way toward this important goal by giving in-state tuition to non-citizen individuals who have graduated high school in Georgia, have a work authorization, and have lived in Georgia since 2020.

“Without offering in-state tuition for these students, many will likely take their talents elsewhere, representing a long-term loss to Georgia’s economy and communities. Lawful immigrants with access to work authorization who are in school or have finished high school currently contribute $211 million in spending power to Georgia’s economy each year, and nearly $25 million in state and local taxes. These are people and tax dollars our state can ill afford to lose.

“We thank Representative Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton) for introducing this important bill, which would be a boon for the entire state. If enacted, HB 888 would benefit all Georgians by allowing many like me who call the Peach State home to attend college and earn an education, and by extension, helping to ensure Georgia remains economically competitive now and into the future.”