[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5532 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5532
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program to
facilitate the transition to tuition-free community college in certain
States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 2025
Mr. Smith of Washington introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program to
facilitate the transition to tuition-free community college in certain
States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I
SECTION 101. TUITION-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRANT AND SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to provide
grants to each State that submits a complete application under
subsection (b) to--
(1) facilitate tuition-free community college for eligible
students;
(2) award subgrants to eligible institutions for the
improvement of the capacity of institutions to provide
supportive services; and
(3) award subgrants to eligible institutions for the
provision of direct grants to student to address non-tuition
costs to meet the growing demand from employers for workers
with postsecondary credentials.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, a
State shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at
such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines
appropriate, including a State plan describing the following:
(1) Interagency committee.--
(A) In general.--A plan to formalize an interagency
committee within such State to--
(i) evaluate gaps and opportunities in the
State workforce, higher education, childcare,
and human services systems; and
(ii) maximize Federal and State resources
to support pathway development that increases
economic mobility and recognized postsecondary
credential attainment.
(B) Membership.--An assurance that such committee
shall consist of members from the following entities:
(i) State unemployment insurance agency.
(ii) Office of the State higher education
executive officer and public college boards.
(iii) State community college system.
(iv) State departments of health and human
services.
(v) State departments of economic
development.
(vi) Workforce development agencies.
(vii) State or local housing authorities.
(viii) Students enrolled in community
colleges in the State.
(ix) Other relevant State agencies as
determined by the State.
(2) Education alignment.--A plan to--
(A) with respect to eligible individuals without a
secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent,
facilitate the completion of such diploma or recognized
equivalent at a community college;
(B) ensure that credits received for Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate classes are
applied to an equivalent community college course; and
(C) otherwise align the requirements between
secondary schools and community colleges in order to
increase the accessibility of community college for
eligible individuals.
(3) Development.--A plan to--
(A) improve career pathway development, with
special attention to career pathways related to in-
demand industry sectors or occupations identified under
paragraph (14);
(B) increase economic mobility of State residents;
and
(C) provide access to affordable postsecondary
education for State residents through a network of
coordinated State and Federal support systems designed
and implemented by State agencies in partnership with
public institutions of higher education and public
higher education systems.
(4) Credential attainment.--A plan to prioritize secondary
and recognized postsecondary credential attainment through--
(A) integrated education and training models;
(B) dual enrollment programs; and
(C) an increased number of navigators.
(5) Priority.--A plan to prioritize assistance to
individuals--
(A) with a barrier to employment;
(B) with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty
level; or
(C) without a recognized postsecondary credential.
(6) Public resources.--A plan to maximize public resources
to support the attainment of a recognized postsecondary
credential, including with respect to--
(A) transportation;
(B) on-campus or off-campus housing;
(C) childcare;
(D) food assistance; and
(E) other support programs.
(7) Outreach.--A plan to reach eligible individuals without
a recognized postsecondary credential, including with respect
to individuals who--
(A) live in high-poverty areas;
(B) are first-generation students;
(C) are low-income students; and
(D) identify as belonging to other underrepresented
student groups.
(8) Recognized postsecondary credential enrollment,
persistence, retention and completion.--A plan to increase
enrollment, persistence, retention, and credential completion
by--
(A) developing new, or expanding existing, degree
and credential programs based on the needs of in-demand
industry sectors or occupations identified under
paragraph (14);
(B) increasing the number of career counselors and
navigators;
(C) ensuring that eligible students enrolled in
community colleges--
(i) are not charged tuition or fees; and
(ii) are not required to apply Federal,
State, or private financial assistance
(including scholarships) to pay for the cost of
tuition or fees; and
(D) ensuring that the eligibility of an eligible
student enrolled in community college for a Federal
Pell Grant under subpart 1 of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) or
other financial assistance is not affected by funds
provided under this Act or private scholarship awards
unless the total amount of such student's Federal Pell
Grant, other financial assistance, and private
scholarships exceeds the student's annual cost of
attendance.
(9) Cost analyses.--Cost analyses for--
(A) providing tuition-free community and technical
college pathways to individuals who have not attained--
(i) a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent; or
(ii) a recognized postsecondary credential,
up to and including a bachelor's degree; and
(B) expanding institutional capacity to meet an
increased demand for recognized postsecondary
credentials by expanding supportive services, including
with respect to hiring additional--
(i) career counselors;
(ii) navigators; and
(iii) other support staff.
(10) Data collection.--
(A) In general.--A plan for data collection efforts
to measure program outcomes and evaluate program
success, including by leveraging existing
administrative data to track any change in
participation in recognized postsecondary credential
programs at community colleges.
(B) Content.--An assurance that the State that
awards subgrants under this title will collect the
following data:
(i) With respect to each public institution
of higher education--
(I) the number and percentage of
students receiving emergency aid; and
(II) the average grant amount for
each student.
(ii) With respect to each semester or
quarter at a public institution of higher
education--
(I) rate of retention; and
(II) rate of completion of a
recognized secondary credential.
(iii) The grade point averages of students
receiving emergency aid subgrants.
(iv) Other data reported by the State.
(v) Other data required by the Secretary.
(11) Data sharing.--A State shall--
(A) provide an interagency data-sharing agreement
that facilitates statewide data collection efforts
between--
(i) State agencies that oversee the
dispersal of State and Federal benefits;
(ii) the State educational agency;
(iii) the State higher education system;
(iv) the State board; and
(v) other agencies determined by the
Secretary to be necessary; and
(B) detail how such agreement will promote cross-
agency collaboration and improve recognized
postsecondary credential completion.
(12) Transfer agreements.--A description of--
(A) transfer agreements between 2-year and 4-year
public institutions of higher education in such State;
and
(B) the ways in which the State will expand the
number of transfer agreements, including with respect
to the facilitation and improvement of credit transfers
between institutions.
(13) Sustaining funds.--The State shall describe--
(A) the ways in which such State will sustain a
tuition-free community college model; and
(B) the amount of Federal assistance needed to
sustain the model described in subparagraph (A).
(14) In-demand industry sectors or occupations.--A plan
to--
(A) identify in-demand industry sectors or
occupations in such State; and
(B) develop and provide access to pathways to
credential and degree programs for jobs in such
industries, giving priority to credential and degree
programs that correspond to high-quality jobs in
consultation with--
(i) the State board;
(ii) the State health and human services
agency;
(iii) the State board of higher education;
and
(iv) business industry groups within the
State.
(15) Federal programs.--
(A) In general.--A description of how the State
will use amounts under covered programs, to the extent
otherwise permitted by law, to reduce eligibility and
participation requirement barriers in such programs in
order to--
(i) treat the pursuit of a recognized
postsecondary credential as meeting any
compliance, work participation, and core
activity requirements for each such program;
and
(ii) increase access to and completion of
recognized postsecondary credential programs.
(B) Covered programs defined.--In this paragraph,
the term ``covered programs'' means--
(i) the temporary assistance for needy
families program under part A of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601);
(ii) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program Employment and Training Program under
section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2015);
(iii) the Child Care Development Fund under
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.); and
(iv) housing assistance programs carried
out by the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development.
(c) Grant Amounts.--The Secretary shall determine grant amounts
under subsection (a) with respect to each State based on the following:
(1) Statewide unemployment and underemployment rates that
are 1 percentage point above the national average.
(2) The number of local educational agencies in a State
that elect to receive special assistance payments under section
11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)).
(3) A statewide official poverty rate that is 1 percentage
point above the national average.
(4) As of the date on which the application is submitted
under subsection (b), whether the State carries out a tuition-
free community college program.
(d) Funds.--
(1) Timing.--A grant under this title shall be awarded for
a period of 5 years, of which--
(A) a maximum of 1 year may be used for planning;
and
(B) a minimum of 4 years shall be used for
implementation.
(2) Federal cost share.--The Federal cost share of
facilitating tuition-free community college for eligible
students pursuant to a grant awarded under subsection (a) shall
be not less than 100 percent for costs incurred during the 5-
year grant period described in paragraph (1).
(e) Grant Uses.--An eligible State shall use grant funds awarded
under this section--
(1) to implement the State plan submitted as part of the
application under subsection (b), including with respect to
data collection and reporting in accordance with paragraph (10)
of such subsection; and
(2) to award subgrants to--
(A) eligible institutions in accordance with
section 102; and
(B) eligible students in accordance with section
103.
(f) Eligible Student Defined.--In this section, the term ``eligible
student'' means an individual who--
(1) is at least 18 years of age;
(2) does not have a postsecondary credential that is less
than a bachelor's degree; and
(3) when used with respect to a State, is a resident of the
State.
SEC. 102. SUBGRANTS FOR INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
(a) In General.--A State that receives a grant under section 101
shall award subgrants to eligible institutions for institutional
capacity and wraparound services.
(b) Application.--An eligible institution seeking a subgrant under
this section shall submit to the State an application in such form, at
such time, and containing such information as the State may require.
(c) Subgrant Uses.--An eligible institution that receives a
subgrant under this section shall use such subgrant funds for
implementing activities and services that improve retention and
completion of recognized postsecondary credentials, including--
(1) identifying and addressing the needs of students,
including affordable housing, childcare, transportation, and
food;
(2) supporting the work of navigators, including--
(A) providing information to students with respect
to eligibility for assistance under other Federal,
State, and institutional assistance programs; and
(B) connecting students with on-campus and off-
campus supportive services;
(3) hiring additional staff;
(4) increasing access to supportive services by
centralizing such services on-campus;
(5) offering additional scheduling options for classes with
respect to the day, time, and location of such classes;
(6) improving the transfer of credits between institutions
of higher education, including community colleges;
(7) expanding pathways related to in-demand industry
sectors or occupations;
(8) providing access to technology, including--
(A) digital literacy courses;
(B) computers;
(C) software; and
(D) other equipment necessary to attain a
recognized postsecondary credential; and
(9) partnering with an entity selected by the State to
provide technical assistance, including with respect to--
(A) carrying out the State plan under section 101;
(B) awarding subgrants under section 103;
(C) developing reports under section 104;
(D) connecting students to public benefits; and
(E) carrying out the activities described in
paragraphs (1) through (8).
(d) Eligible Institution Defined.--In this section, the term
``eligible institution'' means an institution--
(1) located in the State; and
(2) that is--
(A) a community college that is located in a
geographic area that serves local educational agencies
that participate, through the community eligibility
provision authorized by the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1758 note et seq.) in--
(i) the national school lunch program under
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and
(ii) the school breakfast program under the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et
seq.);
(B) a community college that is located in
geographic areas with 40 percent of the population at
or below the Federal poverty line;
(C) an institution of higher education with an
admission rate of 50 percent or higher; or
(D) an institution that is eligible to receive a
grant under part A or B of title III or title V of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.),
including--
(i) a historically Black college or
university;
(ii) a Hispanic-serving institution;
(iii) a Tribal college or university;
(iv) a minority-serving institution; and
(v) a rural-serving institution of higher
education.
SEC. 103. SUBGRANTS FOR EMERGENCY AID TO STUDENTS.
(a) In General.--A State that receives a grant under section 101
shall award subgrants to eligible students for emergency aid.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible student seeking a subgrant
under this section shall submit to the State an application in
such form, at such time, and containing such information as the
State may require.
(2) Notification of receipt.--Upon receipt of an
application from an eligible student under paragraph (1), the
State shall notify such student of such receipt in a manner to
be determined by the State.
(3) Appeal.--If an application submitted by an eligible
student under paragraph (1) is denied by the State, such
student may appeal such denial in a manner to be determined by
the State.
(c) Timing.--A subgrant awarded under this section shall be for a
period of 5 years.
(d) Contracts.--A State may award a contract to a scholarship-
granting organization for purposes of--
(1) accepting applications from eligible students under
subsection (b)(1); and
(2) disbursing subgrant funds to eligible students in
accordance with subsection (e)(4).
(e) Funds.--
(1) Administration.--Not more than 20 percent of funds
awarded under this section may be used for the administration
of emergency aid to eligible students.
(2) Direct aid.--Not less than 80 percent of funds awarded
under this section shall be used to award emergency aid
subgrants to eligible students.
(3) Subgrant amounts.--
(A) Eligible students without dependents.--With
respect to an academic year, a subgrant awarded to an
eligible student that does not have a dependent may not
exceed $1,500.
(B) Eligible students with dependents.--With
respect to an academic year, a subgrant awarded to an
eligible student with a dependent may not exceed
$2,500.
(4) Disbursement of funds.--An institution shall disburse
funds to eligible students in a timely manner, as determined by
the State.
(5) Federal taxes.--A subgrant under this title may not be
considered income for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
(f) Eligible Student Defined.--In this section, the term ``eligible
student'' means a student enrolled at a public junior or community
college in the applicable State and participating in the tuition-free
program pursuant to section 101, without regard to whether such student
submits an application under section 483 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090), who is experiencing financial challenges that
may affect the ability of such student to remain enrolled at such
college, including--
(1) lack of access to or loss of--
(A) employment (including a temporary loss of
employment);
(B) transportation;
(C) child care;
(D) utilities (including water and electricity); or
(E) housing;
(2) food insecurity;
(3) with respect to a student or the dependent of such
student, a medical condition or need, including--
(A) pregnancy; and
(B) mental health conditions; and
(4) with respect to a student who is a dependent--
(A) the death of a parent or guardian; or
(B) a parent or guardian with a medical condition
that results in temporary or permanent loss of
employment of such parent or guardian.
SEC. 104. REPORTS.
(a) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after receiving the
reports required under subsection (b) for a year, and on an
annual basis thereafter, such State shall submit to the
Secretary a report describing--
(A) the uses of funds under this title;
(B) progress made in fulfilling the requirements of
the grant;
(C) with respect to participating community
colleges, rates of--
(i) graduation;
(ii) persistence;
(iii) transfer; and
(iv) attainment of recognized postsecondary
credentials;
(D) the institutional reports submitted under
subsection (b);
(E) the ways in which the State is communicating
with institutions to--
(i) understand the barriers of students,
with respect to eligibility and access, to
public supports; and
(ii) use the information described in
subparagraph (A) to inform any changes;
(F) the ways in which the State human services
agency and State board are aligning the policy goals of
such agencies with the policy goals of the State higher
education agency;
(G) changes in access to, and use of, public
benefits;
(H) changes in employment with respect to in-demand
industry sectors and high-quality jobs;
(I) changes in rates of unemployment and
underemployment;
(J) other data as provided by the State; and
(K) other data as required by the Secretary.
(2) Disaggregation.--The information described in
subparagraphs (G) through (K) shall be disaggregated, to the
extent practicable, by--
(A) race;
(B) ethnicity; and
(C) income level.
(b) Institution Report.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a
subgrant under section 102 or 103, and on an annual basis thereafter,
an institution shall submit to the State a report describing--
(1) the uses of funds;
(2) with respect to the period beginning on the date on
which a subgrant was received and ending on the date on which
the report is submitted, changes in rates of--
(A) retention; and
(B) graduation;
(3) the ways in which such institution increased awareness
of, and access to, public supports made available through State
agencies; and
(4) the ways in which such institution made improvements to
tracking data with respect to--
(A) the basic needs of students;
(B) the financial barriers of students; and
(C) the connection of students to public supports.
(c) Public Access.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date
described in subsection (a)(1) each year, the Secretary shall
make the data from the report submitted by each State pursuant
to such subsection publicly available and shall include--
(A) a dashboard that provides key metrics; and
(B) downloadable data sets for each participating
State and participating institution.
(2) Development of metrics.--In developing or adapting the
reporting metrics described in paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary
may consult with the Director of the Institute of Education
Sciences.
SEC. 105. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Business industry group.--The term ``business industry
group'' means an organization that represents businesses
(including small businesses), individual employers, industry
clusters, and individuals from--
(A) business or trade organizations;
(B) economic development organizations;
(C) nonprofit organizations, community-based
organizations, or intermediaries;
(D) philanthropic organizations;
(E) industry associations; or
(F) other organizations determined necessary by the
State.
(2) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has
the meaning given the term ``junior or community college'' in
Section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1058).
(3) Eligible state.--The term ``eligible State'' means a
State that is a recipient of a grant under section 101.
(4) ESEA terms.--The terms ``secondary school'' and
``Secretary'' have the meanings given such terms in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(5) HEA terms.--
(A) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term
``Hispanic-serving institution'' has the meaning given
such term in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a).
(B) Historically black college or university.--The
term ``historically Black college or university'' has
the meaning given the term ``part B institution'' in
section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1061).
(C) Junior or community college.--The term ``junior
or community college'' has the meaning given such term
in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)).
(D) Minority-serving institution.--The term
``minority-serving institution'' includes the entities
described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)).
(E) Tribal college or university.--The term
``Tribal college or university'' has the meaning given
such term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
(F) Rural-serving institution of higher
education.--The term ``rural-serving institution of
higher education'' has the meaning given such term in
section 861(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1161q(b)).
(6) High-quality job.--The term ``high-quality job'' means
a job that is defined by the interagency committee described in
section 101(b)(1).
(7) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(8) WIOA terms.--
(A) The terms ``in-demand industry sector or
occupation'', ``individual with a barrier to
employment'', ``recognized postsecondary credential'',
``State board'', and ``supportive services'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(B) The term ``integrated education and training''
has the meaning given such term in section 203 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3272).
(9) Navigator.--The term ``navigator'' means an individual
who is integrated into the existing community college operation
and who works with students to--
(A) understand the eligibility of such students for
Federal, State, and local financial aid and benefit
options;
(B) assist such students with the application
process for such options; and
(C) connect students with resources on campus and
in the community.
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this title for fiscal year 2026 and each of the 4
succeeding fiscal years.
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