Education (Student Financial Aid)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2637: Establishes the "Hunger-Free Campus Act"

The Hunger-Free Campus Act (S 2637) creates a grant program for public colleges and universities to address student food insecurity. To qualify, campuses must meet specific requirements, including establishing student-led hunger task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating on-campus food pantries, and conducting annual student hunger surveys. Grants fund initiatives like meal donation programs, SNAP outreach, and awareness campaigns to support students' basic food needs. The program requires institutions to report on grant usage and outcomes to the state education commissioner, with priority given to schools with high Pell Grant enrollment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state grant program funding campus food insecurity initiatives, increasing government spending on public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds campus initiatives to address student food insecurity, directly supporting educational access and student well-being in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2059: 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 EducationProvides free/reduced meal plans for low-income university students, directly enhancing educational access and reducing financial barriers to higher education participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1795: Relates to the New York state dental faculty loan forgiveness incentive program

This bill (A 1795) creates the New York State Dental Faculty Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program to help dental schools recruit faculty. It provides eligible licensed dentists working as faculty or clinical instructors at New York dental schools with up to $40,000 annually in student loan forgiveness (capped at $160,000 total), based on teaching 12+ academic credit hours per year. To qualify, applicants must have dental degree debt, completed qualifying faculty coursework, and work at a New York dental school. The program also requires the development of a standardized academic dentistry curriculum by an association representing New York dental centers, bypassing standard competitive bidding for that contract.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates dental faculty loan forgiveness program to recruit/retain higher education staff, directly funding workforce development in NY dental schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates loan forgiveness for dental faculty to recruit educators, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and access to dental services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5099: Relates to tuition scholarship award programs for certain resident and non-resident medical students

Relates to tuition scholarship award programs for certain resident and non-resident medical students attending approved medical programs on a full-time basis.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates tuition scholarship programs for medical students, expanding access to higher education through direct funding. Directly supports higher education as defined in the topic.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds medical education to increase healthcare workforce, supporting medical professionals as part of healthcare infrastructure92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5358: Allows excelsior scholarship awards to be used for tuition and non-tuition expenses

This bill expands the Excelsior Scholarship program to allow recipients to use scholarship funds for room and board expenses, in addition to tuition. Previously, funds covered only tuition costs up to $5,500 annually. The bill specifies that after tuition is paid using other aid (like federal grants), any remaining scholarship amount can cover non-tuition costs like housing, without exceeding the $5,500 total limit. It directly affects New York students receiving the Excelsior Scholarship who face non-tuition education expenses. The change applies to all eligible students at participating public colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship coverage to include housing, reducing financial barriers for students and increasing educational access under the Excelsior program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands scholarship to cover room and board (housing expenses), making housing more affordable for students directly.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1322: Establishes a novel virus essential workers scholarship program

Establishes a novel virus essential workers scholarship program to award annual scholarships to essential employees who worked during the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or during the outbreak of another novel virus and children of essential employees who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19 or another novel virus.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program funding higher education for essential workers' children, directly advancing educational access and financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4781: Enacts tuition-free NY to provide free tuition at SUNY, CUNY and community colleges

Makes tuition free for New York state residents at SUNY and CUNY schools and community colleges; requires state residency and employment for a period of five years after completion of academic program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMakes tuition free at public colleges for NY residents, expanding higher education access and reducing financial barriers to college enrollment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9131: Establishes the foster care higher education scholarship pilot program

Establishes the foster care higher education scholarship pilot program; grants awards for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for higher education for children and young adults receiving foster care services in New York.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program for foster youth in higher education, directly expanding access and funding for educational opportunities through targeted financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5727: Provides an itemized deduction for expenses for course-mandated supplies for eligible college students paid by taxpayers

This bill creates a new tax deduction for taxpayers who pay for required college course supplies (like textbooks or lab materials). It allows a deduction equal to 25% of these expenses in 2001, increasing to 50% in 2002, 75% in 2003, and 100% for all years after 2003. The deduction applies only to taxpayers who do not claim a separate credit for college expenses under another tax provision. It directly affects college students' families or individuals who pay for these mandatory supplies out of pocket.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for college supplies, reducing taxable income for families - direct tax relief aligning with support indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax relief for college course supplies, reducing financial barriers for students and supporting higher education access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3076: Enacts the "higher education closure advanced notice act"

Enacts the "higher education closure advanced notice act"; requires an institution of higher education to provide notice of an order of closure that can be reasonably expected to cause an interruption in the continuity of a program of higher education for affected students at least ninety days before such order of closure takes effect; provides exceptions where an institution of higher education is not required to provide notice of such an order of closure at least ninety days before such order of closure takes effect; provides for a civil penalty for violations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires 90-day notice for higher education closures to protect student continuity, preventing abrupt program interruptions and ensuring educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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