Education

This bill extends the deadline for graduate and professional students in health care fields to avoid loan repayment requirements. It specifically affects students enrolled in health professions programs at qualifying institutions located within 100 miles of a health professional shortage area or medically underserved community. The key change delays the termination date for these students' loan limits from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030. This provides additional time for students to complete their education without immediate repayment obligations, aiming to support health care workforce development.

The ASPIRE Act authorizes grants to agriculture-focused educational institutions (like land-grant colleges, community colleges, and career schools) to develop training programs in partnership with agriculture businesses, apprenticeship programs, or industry nonprofits. These grants require institutions to use at least 5% of funds for student recruitment and faculty training to prepare students for agricultural careers. The programs must include internships, apprenticeships, and skills workshops to improve workforce training and retention in the agriculture industry. The program must be implemented by the Secretary of Agriculture by January 31, 2026.

The SIFIA Act creates tax credit bonds to finance school infrastructure projects, allowing investors to claim a 25% annual tax credit based on the bond's face value. It requires projects to be net-zero energy buildings and mandates completion within six years, with school districts partnering with private developers meeting strict experience and reporting criteria. The bill allocates $10 billion total for these bonds ($2.5 billion annually), including $1 billion reserved for rural school projects. It also includes rules for bond redemption if funds aren't spent on time and sets limits on how much a single school district can borrow.

The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to improve healthy eating and physical activity for children ages birth through 5 in childcare, Head Start, and early education settings. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants to nonprofits, schools, or consortia to train childcare providers, link programs to nutrition resources, and engage families - prioritizing diverse rural and urban communities. Grantees must address food insecurity and implement evidence-based approaches, with a national evaluator tracking outcomes and reporting results to Congress. The bill also allocates $1.7 million for monitoring state progress on obesity prevention policies and food security in these settings.

The Hire Student Veterans Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include veterans enrolled in school using educational benefits from VA or military programs (such as the GI Bill). Employers hiring these veterans can claim a tax credit, making it easier to recruit students using benefits under specific VA or military education programs. The bill modifies the minimum employment requirement for these veterans, excluding them from standard work duration rules that apply to other credit-eligible hires. These changes take effect for veterans hired after the bill becomes law.

HR 2151, the Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act, creates a federal grant program to support schools in managing epilepsy and seizure disorders among students. It directly affects students with these conditions and their schools by requiring funded training for staff on emergency care plans, individualized health plans, and seizure recognition. Key provisions mandate that schools develop written emergency and health care plans with medical providers and parents, train all staff (including bus drivers) every two years on seizure response, and ensure proper communication between schools and families. The bill allocates $34.5 million over five years (2026-2030) to supplement, not replace, existing school funding for these programs.

HR 2686, the University Accountability Act, imposes financial penalties on tax-exempt universities found to have violated civil rights laws. Specifically, it requires a penalty of $100,000 or 5% of the institution’s administrative compensation (whichever is greater) for each federal court ruling finding a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Universities must report all such violations on their annual tax returns, including details about the violation and prior determinations. Additionally, a university facing a third or subsequent violation must undergo a mandatory review of its tax-exempt status by the IRS. This bill directly affects tax-exempt educational institutions subject to IRS reporting requirements under Section 501(c).

The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026 creates a federal grant program to help nursing schools address faculty shortages by supplementing salaries. Nursing schools applying for grants must submit detailed salary data comparing clinical nurse pay to current faculty pay (adjusted for inflation), then receive funding to cover the difference for eligible faculty - those who previously worked in clinical practice or are new hires. Grants last up to three years ($15 million annually from 2027-2031) and require schools to maintain the salary supplement level throughout the grant period. Priority is given to schools in health professional shortage areas, serving vulnerable populations, or focusing on underrepresented faculty. The program requires schools to demonstrate plans for sustaining salary support after the grant ends.

Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025 This bill allows hospitals to receive reimbursement under Medicare for certain costs associated with training nursing and allied health students in settings other than the hospital itself.  Currently, hospitals may receive reimbursement under Medicare for the reasonable costs associated with training nursing and allied health students if certain conditions are met; the criteria vary depending on whether the students are enrolled in an educational program that is operated by the hospital or another entity. If the students are part of a program that is operated by another entity, the training must occur at the hospital itself or in areas immediately surrounding the hospital in order to qualify for reimbursement (among other requirements). The bill allows hospitals to receive reimbursement for these costs if the training is conducted at an entity that is related to the hospital (i.e., common ownership or control). The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update regulations to reflect these changes. Additionally, the CMS may not recoup or reduce payments to hospitals with respect to costs that are allowed under the bill and must refund any such recoupments or reductions that occurred during the six-year period prior to the bill's enactment.

HR 3793, the Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act of 2025, establishes a Small Business Administration grant program to support minority student entrepreneurs at eligible institutions. It provides minimum $250,000 grants to minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs) to create or expand business development programs. These programs offer free legal, accounting, marketing, and capital resources to minority student entrepreneurs seeking to start or grow businesses. The bill requires annual reporting on program participation, businesses created, and grant usage, with a $50 million authorization for implementation.