DeKALB — Acting President Lisa Freeman released a statement on Tuesday informing students of the impact of a tax recently passed by the Senate.

The Tax Cut and Reform Bill (H.R. 1) was passed by a Senate vote of 51-48 on Dec. 19, signed by President Donald Trump Dec. 22 and became effective Jan. 1.

Freeman said university officials tried to inform lawmakers as they drafted the bill and influence their decisions, along with many other universities across Illinois and the rest of the country.

“NIU worked closely with other universities across Illinois and the nation to engage and inform legislators as they crafted this legislation during November and December 2017,” Freeman said in her Jan. 16 statement.

The tax code advances goals of “encouraging saving for higher education, helping students and families pay for college, and assisting with the repayment of student loans,” according to the American Council on Education. Freeman said in her statement that reaching out to lawmakers helped them understand NIU’s mission of helping students and families plan and pay for college.

“Thanks to these efforts, the final law does not eliminate a number of threatened provisions from current law that enhance the affordability of higher education for students and families,” Freeman said.

A limit on state and local tax deductions “may result in decreased state funding for public higher education institutions,” according to the American Council on Education website.

“The new limit on individual state and local income tax deductions could further complicate the state’s investment in public higher education,” Freeman said.

Freeman also said a reduction in tax incentives for donations to charity means giving up gifted money used for scholarships, research and athletics.

Freeman said there will be a period of time where the university will need to evaluate the scope of the impact this has on the university’s future.

“The full magnitude of this legislation’s impact on the university, students and their families will come into sharper focus as the details of the law are analyzed in the coming weeks and months,” Freeman said. “As always, NIU is committed to ensuring that an outstanding, affordable public education at NIU remains within reach of all Illinoisans.”