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SB 299

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for Pennsylvania Promise Program; and establishing the Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amanda Cappelletti and 11 co-sponsors

The bill creates the Pennsylvania Promise Program to provide need-based scholarships for tuition, fees, and room/board at eligible colleges, funded by a state treasury program with

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Bill Summary · SB 299

Summary of SB 299 (2025-2026) — Pennsylvania Promise Program

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Pennsylvania Promise Program within the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to expand affordable higher education access.
  • Creates a dedicated Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund in the State Treasury to finance scholarships and related costs.

Key definitions and scope (Article XX-N)

  • Defines terms for the program, including:
    • Academic year: 12-month period starting on/after August 1.
    • Eligible student: resident under program, under 24 (or certain conditions), with high school or equivalent, accepted to a higher education institution, and having applied for all available federal/state/institutional aid.
    • Eligible adult learner: resident 24 years or older, with high school completion, accepted to an institution, and having completed FAFSA; income limits apply.
    • Institutions eligible for aid: community colleges, state-owned institutions, state-related institutions, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
    • Tuition, fees, and room-and-board are defined with caps and conditions.
    • State-owned vs. state-related vs. community colleges are distinguished for computing aid levels.

Core components of the Pennsylvania Promise Program

  • Scholarship for tuition and fees (Section 2006-N)

    • Available to eligible students at state-owned or state-related institutions: loan-like grant covering up to the lesser of the in-state tuition cap or remaining cost after other aid.
    • Available to eligible students at community colleges: up to the remaining tuition and fees after other aid, with at least full-time enrollment required.
    • Renewal limited to one academic year; eligibility can be recertified; renewals require ongoing eligibility criteria (enrollment status, academic progress, income limits).
    • Total duration capped at four academic years for community colleges; up to four years at state-owned/state-related institutions (with potential exceptions allowing a two-year extension in some cases).
    • Renewal subject to continuous enrollment and satisfactory progress; income limits reset per year (see annual income adjustments).

  • Scholarship for room and board (Section 2007-N)

    • Eligible at state-owned/state-related institutions: up to the net cost after other aid, with income limit of $60,000 (subject to CPI-based adjustments) and full-time enrollment.
    • Eligible at community colleges: up to room and board costs after other aid, with same income limit; may be full-time or part-time.
    • Renewal limited to one academic year; ongoing eligibility requires continued enrollment, progress, and income limits.
    • Limits: generally four academic years of eligibility at community colleges; up to two years at state-owned/state-related institutions if initial eligibility exhausted; otherwise four years.
    • Renewal rules mirror those for tuition/fees, with continuous enrollment and progress criteria.

  • Aid for adult reeducation (Section 2008-N)

    • Provides aid to eligible adult learners (income up to $250,000; enrolled in eligible programs; certificate or degree, etc.).
    • Priority to programs yielding industry-recognized credentials that articulate with college credit.
    • Funds directed to outstanding balances owed to institutions; renewal limited to one academic year, with annual recertification processes.
    • Eligibility limits focus on not exceeding four years of education and not earning certain degrees that would exhaust benefits.

Administrative and funding mechanics

  • Pennsylvania Promise Program Fund (Section 2005-N)

    • Fund established in the State Treasury; ongoing appropriation to the agency.
    • Can accept gifts, donations, legacies; investment income stays in the fund.
    • Nonlapsing; funds may be reallocated to eligible students per sections 2006-N, 2007-N, and 2008-N.
    • Administrative costs capped at the lesser of 5% or actual applicable costs.

  • Administration and oversight (Sections 2004-N and 2009-N)

    • The agency administers the program and may promulgate regulations.
    • Annual income adjustments (CPI) to household income limits; coordination across agency-administered programs; encouragement of a uniform application where possible.
    • The annual report (Section 2010-N) to the Governor and legislative appropriations/education committees, including:
    • Total students served, demographic breakdowns, number and average value of scholarships, cost comparisons across institutions, program effectiveness, and major fields of study.

Eligibility and enrollment specifics

  • Eligibility generally requires residency, age-related conditions, high school completion, acceptance to an eligible institution, and demonstrated financial need as defined by income limits and remaining aid after other sources.
  • Scholarships are designed to cover tuition/fees and room/board up to specified caps, with annual renewal contingent on continued enrollment and progress.
  • Total scholarship duration is limited (typically up to four years for degree/credential pathways, with some flexibility for extensions at certain institution types).

Timeline and effective date

  • Section 2 states the act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Eligible students and adult learners seeking higher education funding in Pennsylvania.
  • State-owned institutions, state-related institutions, community colleges, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
  • The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) as program administrator.
  • The Commonwealth’s general public through the program’s funding and reporting requirements.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as introduced and focuses on the program’s structure, funding, eligibility, and reporting provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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