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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: ED DP 7-0-0-0 |Third Read: 28-2-0-0-0 |
SB 1423: WICHE; continuation
Sponsor: Senator Angius, LD 30
Committee on Education
Overview
Continues the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) for 10 years.
History
In 1953, Arizona enacted the Western Regional Education Compact (Compact), which is a regional interstate compact among 15 western states, U.S. Pacific territories and freely associated states that facilitates resource sharing and regional cooperation in higher education. WICHE oversees the Compact and related programs to expand students' educational access and reduce students' higher education costs in participating Compact states and territories. WICHE may act on behalf of Arizona to arrange for the placement of students in higher learning institutions and programs in Compact states by negotiating and entering into contracts with the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), public and private educational institutions and agencies and other states. The governor of each participating state and territory appoints three resident members to serve on WICHE.
Currently, WICHE operates three programs: 1) the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE); 2) the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP); and 3) the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP). WUE and WRGP allow students to receive reduced out-of-state tuition at participating institutions in Compact states and territories. A student participating in PSEP must be enrolled in select healthcare degree programs and receives both admission preference and tuition subsidies. ABOR administers these three programs in Arizona (A.R.S. Title 15, Chapter 13, Article 8) (WICHE) (ABOR).
WICHE terminates on July 1, 2026. The House of Representatives Education Committee of Reference (COR) and Senate Education COR conducted separate reviews of WICHE and recommended that WICHE be continued for 10 years (A.R.S. § 41-3026.10) (House Education COR Minutes) (Senate Education COR Report).
Provisions
1. Continues WICHE until July 1, 2036. (Sec. 1, 2)
2. Repeals the Compact and WICHE on January 1, 2037. (Sec. 2)
3. Contains a purpose statement. (Sec. 3)
4. Makes the legislation retroactive to July 1, 2026. (Sec. 4)
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8. Initials CH/IG SB 1423
9. 3/13/2026 Page 0 Education
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