Higher ed bills seek to help immigrant students

House Democrats introduced a collection of bills Monday they feel will benefit students seeking higher education in Missouri.

Several of the bills touched on helping migrants and immigrants receive educations.

Kansas City state Reps. Ingrid Burnett and Brandon Ellington filed House Bill 46 and House Bill 147, respectively. The representatives hope to repeal a state law that prohibits students who are not U.S. citizens from receiving scholarships or financial aid from public colleges and universities.

Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, introduced House Bill 197, which he said would allow students who borrow money to consolidate and refinance their student loans.

According to a press release, the bill Kendrick sponsored would allow students to consolidate their loans with lower interest rates, extend the period they have to repay those loans and cap monthly payments.

Rep. Kevin Windham, D-Hillsdale, introduced House Bill 498, which would allow students to receive money from the A+ scholarship program, even if they receive Pell grants or other funding.

Rep. Judy Morgan, D-Kansas City, introduced House Bill 557 to create the Missouri Tuition Equity Act. The act would require colleges and universities that receive state funding to consider students who have lived in Missouri for two years and graduated from a Missouri high school as a Missouri resident.

The bill would also prohibit schools from refusing to admit students based on their immigration status.

Rep. Chris Carter, D-St. Louis, introduced House Bill 131, which would require public colleges and universities to designate at least one person in every student organization to report campus domestic violence or sexual assault.

A playback of a live stream of the event is available in the player below.