The General Assembly on Wednesday sent a bill to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk after months of wrangling that would fund state-affiliated colleges and universities.
The Senate voted 45-5 in favor adopt a law provide equal funding to state schools: Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University, while Lincoln University and Penn College of Technology will receive a $3,235,000 funding escalate.
The House agreed by a vote of 149-54, Shapiro signed the bill into law on Thursday.
The funds in the bill are intended to provide tuition discounts for in-state students, and universities must meet financial reporting requirements to receive the money.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) described the bill as a “consensus product” during a speech on the Senate floor.
State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) noted the effort of 14 students from Lincoln University who walked 66 miles from the Chester County campus to Harrisburg in an effort to convince lawmakers to approve funding for the school.
“I think all of us, on both sides of the aisle, were moved by this initiative,” Hughes said.
All Senate Democrats voted to support the bill, while Republican Senators Chris Gebhard (R-Lebanon), Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango), Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) and Judy Ward (R-Blair), he voted for them.
State Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson), who voted for the bill, expressed concern over recent campus violence against supporters of Israel and Jewish students, as well as by the University of Pittsburgh fetal tissue studies.
“While I voted yes today, my vote next year on funding for these universities depends on them… continuing on the path that I’ve seen over the last few weeks of taking corrective action,” Dush said.
Dush added that he wants to ensure schools are responsive to future Freedom of Information requests.
“House Democrats have been united over the past few months in our commitment to increasing funding for higher education,” Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) said in a statement on behalf of House Democratic leadership. “We have voted repeatedly this summer and fall to send money to our state universities. As recently as October, the House approved both increased funding for these universities and a tuition freeze for their students.”
“This week, Senate Republicans moved to lift the tuition freeze and equalize funding for our universities, holding our students accountable for the difference,” Harris continued. “While we want a raise for all state universities, we must balance that desire with the reality that these universities need funding now to continue to provide high-quality education without disruption.”
House of Representatives Bill No. 1556aimed at increasing transparency in state university records, was unanimously approved by the state Senate on Wednesday. The House had already approved the bill by a majority vote 201-1 votes Oct. 30, with state Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) casting the lone no vote. This bill will also go to the governor.
This article was updated on November 16 at 5:07 p.m. to add that the bill was signed by Governor Shapiro.
