Clock ticking to repeal law on in-state tuition

Time is running out for a bill to repeal a law that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition.

However, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said Thursday "nothing's dead."

During a Thursday afternoon House Rules Committee hearing, 24 more bills were sent to the floor on what chairwoman Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo, said is the "last list" for House bills, but HB7 was held by a 6-5 vote. With the new list, there are 52 House bills on the Third Reading Calender, and today is ostensibly the final day for House bills.

Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, sponsored the tuition bill in 2002. He also led the opposition to HB7.

"Let's vote this down one more time," he said, just before voting against sending it to the floor.

This is the third year that Donnelson is sponsoring the repeal, which has yet to see a floor hearing. And he's not giving up.

"If I don't try, I shouldn't be here," he said. "It really has to be addressed. Financially, we have to address this issue."