Education (Higher Education)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2286: Establishes a Black Leadership Institute within the state university of New York

Establishes a Black Leadership Institute within the state university of New York as an initiative for Black leaders in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within SUNY a greater proportion of Black professionals at SUNY campuses; creates an eight member advisory council.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Black Leadership Institute in SUNY to retain/grow Black professionals in higher education, advancing diversity and inclusion in educational leadership and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2597: Exempts community colleges from the imposition of the metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax

This bill exempts community colleges from paying the metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax. It amends tax law to explicitly include community colleges in the list of educational institutions already exempt from this tax, alongside public schools, libraries, and other educational entities. The change directly affects community colleges by removing this specific tax burden from their operations. The bill makes a clear, concrete policy adjustment without altering broader tax structures or creating new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts community colleges from tax burden, providing direct tax relief for public education institutions, aligning with tax relief for essential services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts community colleges from tax burden, reducing operational costs for higher education institutions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4218: Relates to a free or reduced meal plan for certain students enrolled at state and city universities

Directs the boards of trustees of SUNY and CUNY to create a free or reduced meal plan to aid students whose household incomes are below the federal poverty line, students participating in educational opportunity programs under section three hundred fifty-five-d of this article and students receiving federal Pell grants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects SUNY/CUNY to provide free/reduced meals for low-income students, expanding higher education access by reducing financial barriers for eligible students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2248: Enacts the college textbook affordability act

Enacts the college textbook affordability act; establishes the New York state open education resources council and the New York state open source digital library; authorizes SUNY campuses and community colleges to adopt open educational resources adoption incentive program campus plans and apply for grants to implement such plans; provides that settlements with the office of the attorney general shall be used to provide assistance to the state university of New York for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes OER programs and grants to reduce textbook costs, expanding access to affordable higher education resources.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes digital library and promotes OER adoption, advancing digital access for education through technology infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Libraries

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5861: Relates to a net price calculator center for colleges on the website of the higher education services corporation

This bill requires New York's Higher Education Services Corporation to create a single, centralized net price calculator tool on its website. The tool will estimate the actual cost of attending any college in the state after accounting for non-repayable financial aid (like grants), using household income and assets entered once by the user. It replaces linking to individual college calculators by compiling data from all institutions into one accessible platform, using the most recent tuition and fee information reported by colleges. This directly affects students and families researching college affordability by providing a standardized, state-wide cost estimate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCentralizes college cost calculator to improve affordability transparency and access for students, directly enhancing educational access in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 991: Establishes a state university of New York pilot program to encourage individuals in college to enter the financial planning industry

Establishes a state university of New York career pilot program to encourage individuals in college to enter the financial planning industry; utilizes campus resources to encourage a well-rounded program and diverse student involvement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates a state university pilot program to encourage college students into financial planning, enhancing higher education career pathways.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5612: Establishes the volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan

Establishes the volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan; provides requirements for eligibility to receive awards under such plan; provides circumstances under which such award will be converted to a student loan.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes higher education financial awards for volunteer firefighters, expanding access to postsecondary education through targeted funding and eligibility requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3735: Excludes certain graduate students from mandatory fees

This bill exempts certain graduate students from mandatory university fees starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects graduate students working as teaching assistants, research assistants, or similar roles (including adjunct instructors and lab technicians) who serve full-time or half-time appointments. The exemption covers all mandatory fees except the graduate student association's student activities fee. The law takes effect immediately upon passage, changing how these students pay fees related to their university enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts graduate students (including teaching assistants) from mandatory fees, reducing financial burden and supporting higher education accessibility and participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5517: Relates to creating the proprietary college tuition reimbursement account

Relates to degree-granting proprietary colleges; creates the proprietary college tuition reimbursement account for the refund of tuition paid by eligible students asserting certain violations; establishes an assessment to be paid by proprietary schools to fund the account.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition reimbursement for students defrauded by proprietary colleges, protecting educational access and financial accountability in higher education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Testing & Assessment

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2237: Enacts the "fair college admissions act"

Enacts the "fair college admissions act"; prohibits legacy admissions policies at colleges and universities in New York; declares such policies and practices to be discriminatory and inequitable.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits legacy admissions in NY colleges, aiming to eliminate discriminatory practices and expand equitable access to higher education - directly advancing educational access within the topic scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track