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Speaker of the House Kirk Cox announced Thursday that keeping college tuition flat again next year will be among his top priorities in the state budget. The plan would freeze tuition in consecutive years for the first time in nearly two decades. Cox also said he wants to increase teacher pay in the state.

“It’s got to be more than just one year,” said Cox, R-Colonial Heights, who must first win his seat this November in a newly drawn district that appears less favorable for a Republican.

He made the commitment Thursday at ChamberRVA’s first Education Summit at the Marriott in downtown Richmond.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said the governor supports both efforts — making college more affordable and paying teachers more. She did not say — and did not respond to a follow-up email when asked — whether a tuition freeze and teacher pay would also be top priorities in the governor’s budget next year.

The state budget that took effect July 1 set aside $57.5 million to freeze tuition, enough to cover each school’s projected increase. Freezing tuition wasn’t mandatory for colleges, but all chose to do it.