The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — A law that takes effect July 1 in Washington will extend in-state college tuition rates to foreign professionals, their spouses and children.

The Seattle Times reports that some lawmakers called it the “Microsoft subsidy bill” because they say the software company and its workers could afford to pay the higher tuition rates. It helps foreign professionals in the country on temporary work visas, such as the H-1B.

The sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, said employers in his district east of Seattle sought the tuition break as a job recruiting tool. The Times said Microsoft Corp. has thousands of workers who may qualify.

Lydia Tamez, associate general counsel and director of global migration at Microsoft, said it would allow Washington to attract and keep talented foreign professionals and to compete with about 13 other states, including Oregon, that already offer tuition breaks to foreign workers.

Microsoft said spouses of the H-1B visa holders often cannot work legally in the U.S., leaving the costs of college classes or pursuing a college degree to be borne on a single income.

“These are people who are here lawfully, and are going to be here for a long period of time,” Tamez said. “It makes it affordable for workers who are your neighbors, pay taxes, buy homes and whose kids hang around with your kids to possibly earn a second degree at night.”

Nonresidents pay about three times as much as in-state tuition.

An analysis concluded the University of Washington would lose about $430,000 a year in the higher tuition rates and more as tuition increases, and Washington State University would miss out on about $215,000.