Education (Student Financial Aid)

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1427: An Act relative to higher education financial literacy counseling

This bill requires public higher education institutions in Massachusetts to provide financial literacy counseling to all accepted students before they arrive on campus. The counseling must cover student loans and all education expenses, including tuition, housing, books, and transportation, along with available financial aid options like grants and work-study. Institutions must also offer a standardized college financing plan developed by federal agencies (CFPB and U.S. Department of Education), which details estimated costs and funding sources. The plan can be provided electronically in printable format, and the Board of Higher Education is authorized to create rules for implementation. This directly affects public colleges and their incoming students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy counseling on loans/expenses for higher ed students, enhancing informed financial decisions and reducing debt risks per bill requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Nov 13, 2025

S 2704: An Act assisting low-income students success through work-study

Senate, November 13, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 945) of Michael O. Moore and James B. Eldridge for legislation to assist low-income students success through work-study, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2704).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides work-study funding to assist low-income students in higher education, directly expanding access and financial support per educational support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 819: An Act to advance fairness, integrity, and excellence in higher education admissions

This bill requires all 4-year degree-granting colleges and universities in the state to annually report detailed admissions data to the attorney general and higher education department. Institutions must disclose whether they use legacy preferences, donor relationships, or early decision/early action policies, and provide disaggregated enrollment statistics broken down by race, financial aid status, and admission pathway. The law prohibits institutions from considering legacy status, donor relationships, or using early decision policies without paying a public service fee calculated based on their endowment size (ranging from 0.01% to 0.2% of endowment). Non-compliant institutions face fees deposited into a Higher Education Opportunity Trust Fund supporting public community colleges and state universities. The bill aims to increase transparency around admissions practices while using financial penalties to enforce accountability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparency in admissions data and bans legacy preferences to promote fairness and equitable access in higher education, advancing educational access as defined in the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 300: An Act relative to debt-free public higher education

SD 300 guarantees free public higher education as a right for eligible Massachusetts residents. It creates a state grant program covering tuition, mandatory fees, and additional costs (like room, board, and books) for students who graduated from a Massachusetts high school or earned a GED in MA, or currently qualify for in-state tuition. The grant supplements existing aid (such as Pell Grants, state grants, or institutional aid) and does not replace it. Eligibility is determined by the Board of Higher Education, which must notify students and maintain a database of eligible applicants. This bill directly affects Massachusetts residents attending public colleges, universities, or vocational programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees free tuition/fees for MA residents, expands higher education access via state grants, supplements existing aid without replacement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 17, 2026

H 1460: An Act relative to college tuition and admissions

By Representative Silvia of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1460) of Alan Silvia and Christopher Hendricks relative to residential preference for financial aid at public institutions of higher education. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modifies financial aid criteria for public higher education, prioritizing residents to enhance access to college funding.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 23, 2025

S 2533: An Act to facilitate student financial assistance

Senate, June 23, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 921) of Joanne M. Comerford and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to facilitate student financial assistance and establish the FAFSA Trust Fund, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2533).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes FAFSA Trust Fund to facilitate student financial assistance, directly supporting higher education access and affordability through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 7, 2026

H 1461: An Act to support access to vocational schools

By Representative Stanley of Waltham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1461) of Thomas M. Stanley for legislation to make certain nursing students eligible for the MassReconnect scholarship program. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands higher education access by making nursing students eligible for MassReconnect scholarships, directly supporting educational access through funding inclusion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 474: An Act to reduce graduate student loan debt

HD 474 amends a tax code provision to include "graduate education debt" within the definition of eligible student debt for debt reduction purposes. It directly affects graduate students who took out state, federal, or commercial loans solely for tuition and related expenses at non-profit institutions offering graduate or professional degrees. The bill adds a specific definition clarifying that "graduate education debt" covers loans secured through approved state, federal, or commercial programs for graduate study. This change allows these loans to qualify under existing tax provisions for debt reduction, expanding eligibility beyond undergraduate loans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends tax code to include graduate education debt for debt reduction, providing tax relief for graduate students through expanded eligibility.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces graduate student debt for higher education, improving access and financial burden for students pursuing graduate degrees at non-profit institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 716: An Act to support access to vocational schools

This bill expands eligibility for the MassReconnect scholarship program to include Practical Nursing Programs at Career/Vocational Technical Education Schools in Massachusetts. It directly affects students enrolled in these specific vocational programs who previously may not have qualified under the program's existing community college focus. The key mechanism is amending the program's description in Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024 to add "or a Practical Nursing Program at a Career/Vocational Technical Education School" to the existing eligibility criteria. This change would allow students pursuing these vocational nursing credentials to access the same financial assistance as community college students. The policy change is limited to modifying the program's scope without altering funding levels or other program requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands MassReconnect scholarship eligibility to vocational Practical Nursing Programs, directly increasing educational access for students in career technical schools previously excluded.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands MassReconnect scholarship to Practical Nursing Programs, directly supporting training of medical professionals (nurses) for healthcare workforce expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 555: An Act to support access to vocational schools

This bill (SD 555) expands eligibility for the MassReconnect scholarship program to include students enrolled in Practical Nursing Programs at Career/Vocational Technical Education Schools in Massachusetts. It directly affects students seeking vocational training in practical nursing who previously might not have qualified under the existing program, which previously covered only community college programs. The key change adds a specific line to the program's definition, allowing these vocational students to access the same financial assistance as those in public community college programs. This is a concrete policy adjustment to broaden access to state-funded educational support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands MassReconnect scholarship eligibility to vocational nursing programs, increasing access to postsecondary education funding for career training.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands MassReconnect scholarships to Practical Nursing Programs, supporting healthcare workforce development by funding vocational training for future nurses, improving access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Student Financial Aid

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