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Bill

HR 8815

Teacher Debt Relief Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jahana Hayes

The bill reorganizes and narrows cross-references among teacher loan forgiveness provisions, changing which criteria must be met together for eligibility.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8815

Summary of HR 8815 (119th Congress) – Teacher Debt Relief Act

Purpose and overarching goal

  • The bill is titled the “Teacher Debt Relief Act.”
  • Its stated aim is to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify eligibility provisions for loan forgiveness for teachers and related purposes.

Key provisions and changes (main structural changes)

  • The bill makes targeted amendments to existing loan forgiveness provisions for teachers within the Higher Education Act. Specifically:

    • Section 428J(g)(2) is revised by:
    • Adding a corrective modification to its subparagraph structure (inserting “or” and renumbering subparagraphs such that an existing subparagraph is redesignated).
    • The technical changes appear to adjust how eligibility criteria or linking provisions are interpreted within this section.
    • Section 455(m) is amended:
    • In paragraph (4), the text removes references to “both this subsection and section 428J, 428K, 428L, or 460” and replaces them with a shorter linkage: “both this subsection and section 428K or 428L.” This narrows or clarifies which loan forgiveness provisions are considered jointly in determining eligibility.
    • Section 460(g)(2) is amended similarly to Section 428J(g)(2):
    • It removes a subparagraph and re-designates the remaining subparagraph, aligning cross-references with the revised structure (inserting “or” after a semicolon, removing a subparagraph, and renumbering the last to maintain continuity).

  • In effect, the bill appears to simplify or consolidate the set of loan forgiveness eligibility criteria that are considered in combination with teacher loan forgiveness programs. The precise substantive impact depends on how the removed subparagraphs and the redesigned subparagraphs interact with existing program rules, but the net effect is a reconfiguration of which borrower-specific sections must be simultaneously satisfied for loan forgiveness eligibility.

Who would be affected

  • Teachers who participate in federal loan forgiveness programs tied to the Higher Education Act (e.g., those involving public service, teaching in eligible settings, and related requirements).
  • Agencies and administrators implementing loan forgiveness programs under titles/sections referenced (428J, 428K, 428L, 455(m), 460(g)) would need to adjust processing to reflect the revised cross-references and eligibility criteria.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the House on May 14, 2026 by Mrs. Hayes (co-sponsored by Jahana Hayes).
  • Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on the same day.
  • No Senate action, floor texts, or effective dates are provided in the summary text available here.
  • The legislation, as written, primarily makes structural amendments to existing statute; any effective date would typically be determined in the final enacted version and corresponding implementing regulations.

Practical considerations and potential impacts

  • Administrative: Implementation would require updates to loan forgiveness program guidelines, FAFSA/loan servicer criteria, and eligibility determinations to align with the revised cross-references.
  • Borrowers: The changes could affect which borrowers are deemed eligible for forgiveness based on how eligibility criteria are combined across multiple sections.
  • Policymaking: The bill signals a legislative intent to adjust the framework governing teacher loan forgiveness, potentially affecting program complexity, operational clarity, and future eligibility determinations.

If you’d like, I can map the exact cross-references to the current program texts or provide a side-by-side comparison with the pre- and post-amendment language to illustrate the precise changes.

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

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