SB 380 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE TO SUPPORT PROMISE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

SB 380 establishes the Office of Postsecondary Success within the Department of Education to support scholarship programs for students pursuing higher education. The office will fund existing "promise programs" (scholarships paired with mentoring and career support) at $3,000 per enrolled student, require annual reporting on student outcomes like graduation and job placement, and work to create eight new promise programs by 2031, prioritizing students in designated alliance districts. It also mandates tracking student data - including net cost of attendance, demographics, and academic progress - to improve program effectiveness. The bill directly affects students in Connecticut’s public colleges and universities, particularly those from low-to-moderate income backgrounds.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 14, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → HED Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with significant structural and substantive changes. The primary Office of Postsecondary Success was replaced by the Office of Higher Education, which now takes direct responsibility for funding, reporting, and establishing new scholarship programs. The text was reorganized to define 'promise programs' and establish clear eligibility criteria and reporting timelines.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a new 'Office of Postsecondary Success' within the Department of Education to the existing 'Office of Higher Education' taking on expanded duties to manage and fund promise programs.

STRUCTURE

The creation of a new 'Office of Postsecondary Success' within the Department of Education was removed and replaced with the existing Office of Higher Education assuming these duties.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'promise program,' 'net cost of attendance,' 'financial aid,' 'qualifying student,' 'institution of higher education,' 'full-time student,' and 'first-year experience program' to clarify program mechanics.

FISCAL

Funding authority was transferred from the new Office of Postsecondary Success to the Office of Higher Education, which must now provide grants of $3,000 per student to existing programs and fund new ones.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that promise programs report graduation, enrollment, and job placement rates to the Office of Higher Education, and the Office must submit progress reports to the legislature.

TIMELINE

Specific deadlines were set for the Office of Higher Education to provide grants (Sept 1, 2026), receive reports (July 1, 2027), and establish eight new promise programs by Jan 1, 2031.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

SEN. ADOPTED SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Higher Education and Employment Advancement

upper

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors