Bill > SB2079

This bill modifies the appointment process for the nine voting members of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, ensuring an equal distribution of appointments among the Governor, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with specific provisions for successor appointments to maintain regional representation and staggered terms. It also defines "on-time graduation" as completing an associate's or bachelor's degree within four academic years for university students or two academic years for community college students, and allows the commission to approve separate tuition and fee increases for institutions that demonstrate positive growth in their on-time graduation rates. Furthermore, the bill requires the University of Tennessee, the Board of Regents, and state university boards to develop policies by July 1, 2026, outlining how revenue from out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees will be used to offset costs for in-state undergraduate students.