Tuition hike cap, college funding boost approved

Colorado’s public colleges and universities will have lower tuition increase caps next year under a bill that won unanimous approval Monday in the state Senate.

The Senate gave voice approval to a bill to lower maximum tuition hikes from 9 percent to 6 percent. The bill also adds about $100 million to higher education funding, an amount aimed at backfilling budget cuts during the recent recession.

One more formal Senate vote is required before the tuition measure moves to the House. The $100 million funding boost has already been accounted for in the state budget for next year, meaning the bill is almost certain to become law.