Legislative Tracker: Pell Grants
On this page, you'll find proposals that include recommendations for expanding or altering the Federal Pell Grant Program.
H.R.2733 — The Pell Grant Flexibility Act
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle [D-NY]
Introduced: 04/08/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would allow students with disabilities who are approved by their institution for a reduced course load—or who are enrolled in at least 5 credits, whichever is greater—to be treated as full-time students for the purposes of determining Pell Grant amounts. This full-time status designation would not apply when calculating the student's overall semester-based Pell Grant eligibility limit.
H.R.2543 — Tax-Free Pell Grant Act
Sponsor: Rep. Doggett [D-TX]
Introduced: 04/01/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand the tax exclusion for Pell Grants and change education-related tax credits. Specifically, it would exclude all Pell Grant amounts from gross income, regardless of how they are used, aligning with how scholarships for qualified expenses are already treated. It also ensures that Pell Grants do not reduce eligibility for the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits. The bill would also broaden the definition of qualified expenses under these credits to include not only tuition and fees, but also computer equipment, internet access, course materials, and child and dependent care expenses
H.R.1666 — Pell Grant Sustainability Act
Sponsor: Rep. Casten [D-IL]
Introduced: 02/27/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would index the maximum Federal Pell Grant to inflation by automatically adjusting the maximum Pell Grant each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Beginning in the 2025–2026 award year, the grant amount will increase annually by the estimated percentage change in inflation, rounded to the nearest $5. Additionally, the bill removes the current expiration date for mandatory Pell Grant funding, ensuring continued appropriations beyond 2034. Repayment would be 15 years for undergraduate and 25 years for graduate students. Loan forgiveness programs would be eliminated. The bill would require a significant amount of information be published on the institutions website annually including, percentage of student receiving each aid type, breakdown of student population by enrollment level, average length to degree completion, and default and non-repayment rates, as well as additional information. Additionally, each institution would pay a default rate fine annually in an amount that is equal to the applicable percentage of outstanding loans.
H.R.1635 — Pell to Grad Act
Sponsor: Rep. Stevens [D-MI]
Introduced: 02/26/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand Federal Pell Grant eligibility by increasing the maximum period from 12 to 16 semesters. It also allows students who received Pell Grants for fewer than 16 semesters as undergraduates to use remaining eligibility for a postbaccalaureate program at an eligible institution.
S.383 — JOBS Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine [D-VA]
Introduced: 02/04/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This would allow Pell Grants to be used for high-quality job training programs that are at least eight weeks in length and lead to industry-recognized credentials or certificates. It would define eligible job training programs as those providing career and technical education instruction at an institution of higher education that provides at least 150 clock hours of instruction time over a period of at least 8 weeks and licenses, certifications, or credentials that meet the hiring requirements of multiple employers in the field for which the job training is offered.
H.R. 7488 - Degrees Not Debt Act of 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal [D-CA]
Introduced: 2/29/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would set the maximum Pell Grant amount to $14,800 for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 award years. Beginning in the 2026-27 award year, and for every following award year, this bill would require that the maximum Pell Grant be increased based on inflation adjustments.
H.R. 6585 – Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik [R-NY]
Introduced: 12/05/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would provide Pell Grants to students enrolled in eligible short-term programs. The bill outlines requirements for program eligibility and data collection, as well as accreditation determination. Institutions subject to the endowment tax would be prohibited from awarding federal student loans to eligible students, as well as federal PLUS loans to a parent of a Pell Grant recipient. Additionally, institutions subject to the endowment tax may only receive funding under the FSEOG program if it guarantees that Pell Grant recipients receive a total amount of grants and scholarships that is not less than the student’s cost of attendance.
NASFAA Today’s News (TN) Article: House Unveils Bipartisan Short-Term Pell Grant Legislation
H.R.4931 – Pell Grant Flexibility Act
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle [D-NY]
Introduced: 07/26/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would allow students with disabilities who take a reduced course load, as approved by the institution of higher education, to receive their full-time equivalent Pell grant.
S.2442 – PELL Act
Sponsor: Rep. Budd [R-NC]
Introduced: 07/26/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would extend Pell grant eligibility to students at certain short-term workforce programs. In order to be eligible for short-term Pell, programs must meet certain criteria, such as program length, completion rates, job placement rates, and costs to earnings ratio. Additionally, qualifying programs must report and make public data on the length of program, number of students enrolled, completion rates, and employment rates. In order for a student to receive short term Pell, they must be enrolled in an eligible program as described above or have already received a post baccalaureate degree.
H.R.1655 — Jobs to Compete Act
Sponsor: Scott [Rep.-D-VA]
Introduced: 03/17/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the HEA and extend Pell Grant eligibility to short-term workforce programs that are between 150 and 600 clock hours and have a verified completion rate of at least 70%. To be considered eligible, short-term workforce programs must meet a list of criteria and ED will conclude if the institution providing the programs meets the qualifications. The bill puts in place a measure that calls for interagency data sharing between ED and the Department of Labor, so that the agencies can collect, review, and analyze data relating to the short-term workforce programs. Additionally, the bill outlines requirements that accrediting agencies and associations must meet if they want to evaluate the quality of short-term workforce programs.
H.R.1742 — Pell Grant Sustainability Act
Sponsor: Casten [Rep.-D-IL]
Introduced: 03/23/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would ensure that federal resources keep up with changing economic trends by restoring the automatic annual inflation adjustment to the Federal Pell Grant program.
H.R.961 — Pell to Grad Act
Sponsor: Stevens [Rep.-D-MI]
Introduced: 02/09/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would change a students’ Pell Grant eligibility from 12 semesters to 16 semesters. Additionally, if a student has not utilized their entire Pell Grant eligibility during their undergraduate education, this bill would allow them to put their remaining eligibility towards their first graduate degree.
H.R.793/S.161 — Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act
Sponsors: Rep. Johnson [R-OH] and Sen. Kaine [D-VA]
Introduced: 01/31/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would extend Pell Grant eligibility of certain short-term programs that are between 150 and 600 clock hours, offered over the course of at least eight weeks. This bill outlines two additional categories that would qualify for the Pell Grant usage, "eligible career pathway programs" and "eligible job training programs." These programs must meet various criteria to qualify.
H.R.496 — Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning (PELL) Act
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik [R-NY]
Introduced: 01/25/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would extend Pell Grant eligibility for students seeking to enroll in short-term programs of 150 to 600 clock hours, or an equivalent, offered over the course of eight to 15 weeks. Programs must meet various requirements to be considered eligible. This bill would require that ED publish the costs and outcomes of the eligible short-term programs on the College Scorecard.
Publication Date: 4/8/2025
