This bill increases federal funding for Impact Aid, which supports school districts that serve students on federal property (like military bases) or have high numbers of children with disabilities. It authorizes specific annual funding amounts for four key areas: payments for federal property acquisition, basic support for heavily impacted districts, aid for children with disabilities, and school construction. The funding grows incrementally each year from 2026 through 2031, with total annual amounts rising from $85 million to $250 million for property payments, and from $1.49 billion to $2.35 billion for basic district support. This directly affects school districts in communities with significant federal land or federal facility presence.
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to prioritize digital literacy skills in adult education programs. It defines "digital literacy skills" using existing federal standards and requires WIOA-funded programs to integrate these skills into their services for adults seeking employment, economic self-sufficiency, or community participation. Key provisions mandate that programs must now include training in digital technology use, problem-solving with digital tools, and parental support for children's learning through digital skills. The bill directly affects adult education and workforce programs serving low-income adults, job seekers, and parents across all states.
HR 2971, the YOUNG Act of 2025, creates a new federal grant program to fund youth biodiversity monitoring projects using modern tools like drones, AI, and environmental DNA analysis. It directly supports schools, nonprofits, tribal governments, and local governments that run projects educating young people about wildlife science and conservation. The program allocates $1 million annually (2026-2032) to cover project costs such as supplies, transportation, and permits, with priority given to projects serving underserved communities facing systemic barriers. Grantees must report on participation and grant usage to Congress within two years of enactment.
The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 would establish a federal grant program to fund school-based mental health services for students in grades K-12, particularly those experiencing trauma, grief, suicide risk, or violence. It directly affects schools (including Bureau of Indian Education schools), students, and community mental health providers through partnerships that must include school districts and local mental health entities. Key provisions require services to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and integrated with positive behavioral supports, with grants capped at $2 million per award for 5 years (renewable) and funded at $300 million annually for 2027-2028. Recipients must report annually on program outcomes, ensure equitable access across urban and rural areas, and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA and FERPA.
HR 5149, the Protecting Girls’ Sports for Military Kids Act, prohibits male students from participating in female-designated sports at schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA), which serve military-connected students. The bill defines "female sport" as athletic programs exclusively for students biologically assigned female at birth (based on reproductive systems producing eggs), and bars those assigned male at birth (based on reproductive systems producing sperm) from such teams. This policy applies only to DODEA schools, not public or private schools generally. The law creates a specific rule for military-dependent student athletes within the DODEA system, using biological criteria to determine eligibility.
This bill requires the Department of Education to publish and regularly update online information about career and technical education (CTE) programs, including their average completion time, cost, and graduate employment rates, plus state-specific program opportunities and funding options under the Perkins Act. It also mandates adding a one-page summary of this CTE information to the beginning of the FAFSA application, along with an acknowledgment signature box, to inform students about CTE as a viable alternative to four-year degrees. The disclosure must include details on Workforce Pell Grants and program availability. No new funding is authorized to implement these requirements. The bill directly affects students applying for federal student aid by providing clearer information about CTE pathways.
HR 6739, the Clarity in Professional Degree Act, amends the Higher Education Act to restore federal student aid eligibility for specific professional degree programs that were excluded under a recent Department of Education rule change. It directly affects students pursuing degrees in nursing (ADN, RN, BSN), occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, accounting, architecture, education specialties, and public health. The bill adds these 10 degree types to the official definition of "professional degree" under federal aid rules, reversing a policy expected to take effect July 1, 2026, which would have removed their aid eligibility. This change ensures students in these critical fields can continue accessing federal loans and grants.
This bill changes tax rules for specific education loan repayments. It allows graduates to exclude from taxable income amounts received through "post-graduation scholarship grants" that repay part of their student loans. These grants must be provided by qualified nonprofits (like private foundations or community trusts) to individuals who agree to live and work in communities with below-average bachelor's degree attainment rates. The grants require direct payments to loan holders, exclude employees of the granting organization, and include reporting requirements for the Treasury Department on program effectiveness within three years.
HR 6226, the Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act, addresses mental health disparities affecting Hispanic and Latino youth by funding a national awareness campaign and mandating two studies. The bill directs the Secretary to develop a culturally and linguistically competent campaign targeting parents, caregivers, teachers, and school staff to increase mental health awareness, combat stigma, and provide resources like screenings and workshops in schools and community centers - supported by $5 million annually from 2026-2030. It also requires a study on mental health barriers and suicide rates among this group, and a separate study on the shortage of Hispanic/Latino mental health professionals, both to be completed within one year of enactment. The studies will break down data by factors like immigration status, geographic location, and language, with findings informing future policy recommendations.
Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act This bill requires public institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to charge no more than in-state tuition and fee rates to students who are residents of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, provided they are also U.S. nationals.
