Back to Iowa

HF2396 • 2026

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

Budget Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
CROKEN
Last action
2026-02-11
Official status
Introduced, referred to Higher Education. H.J. 257 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-11 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, referred to Higher Education. H.J. 257 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to programs administered by the college student aid commission, including the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program, Iowa workforce grant and incentive program, vocational-technical tuition grant program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and the gap tuition assistance program, and making appropriations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
House

File

2396

-

Introduced

HOUSE

FILE

2396

BY

CROKEN

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

modifying

provisions

related

to

programs

administered

by

1

the

college

student

aid

commission,

including

the

skilled

2

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

program,

Iowa

workforce

3

grant

and

incentive

program,

vocational-technical

tuition

4

grant

program,

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

5

last-dollar

scholarship

program,

and

the

gap

tuition

6

assistance

program,

and

making

appropriations.

7

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

8

TLSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

H.F.

2396

Section

1.

Section

15H.10,

subsections

1

and

4,

Code

2026,

1

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

2

1.

Subject

to

an

appropriation

of

funds

by

the

general

3

assembly

for

this

purpose,

the

commission

shall

establish

a

4

volunteer

mentor

program

to

support

implementation

of

the

5

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

6

and

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

grant

programs

7

program

created

in

sections

256.228

and

section

256.229

.

8

The

commission,

in

collaboration

with

the

department

of

9

workforce

development

and

the

college

student

aid

commission,

10

shall

adopt

rules

pursuant

to

chapter

17A

to

implement

and

11

administer

the

volunteer

mentor

program,

and

shall

establish

12

standards,

guidelines,

and

expectations

for

a

productive

13

and

appropriate

relationship

between

mentors

and

mentees,

14

including

helping

students

meet

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

15

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

program

or

future

ready

Iowa

16

skilled

workforce

grant

requirements

,

as

appropriate

;

identify

17

work-based

learning

opportunities;

and

make

career-related

18

connections

that

are

advantageous

to

persons

participating

in

19

the

volunteer

mentor

program.

20

4.

The

commission,

in

collaboration

with

the

department

of

21

workforce

development

and

the

college

student

aid

commission,

22

and

in

cooperation

with

an

eligible

institution

as

defined

23

in

section

256.228

or

256.229

,

as

appropriate,

shall

assign

24

a

student,

who

is

a

recipient

of

a

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

25

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

under

section

256.228

or

26

a

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

grant

under

section

27

256.229

,

who

requests

the

assignment

of

a

mentor,

and

who

28

enters

into

an

agreement

under

subsection

3

,

to

a

mentor

29

appropriate

to

the

prospective

mentee’s

field

of

study

whenever

30

possible.

31

Sec.

2.

Section

84A.1B,

subsection

3,

unnumbered

paragraph

32

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

33

Create,

and

update

as

necessary,

a

list

of

high-demand

jobs

34

statewide

for

purposes

of

the

future

ready

Iowa

registered

35

-1-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

1/

11

H.F.

2396

apprenticeship

programs

created

in

chapter

84F

,

the

summer

1

youth

intern

pilot

program

established

under

section

84A.12

,

2

the

Iowa

employer

innovation

program

established

under

section

3

84A.13

,

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

4

scholarship

program

established

under

section

256.228

,

the

5

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

grant

program

established

6

under

section

256.229

,

and

postsecondary

summer

classes

7

for

high

school

students

as

provided

under

section

261E.8,

8

subsection

8

.

In

addition

to

the

list

created

by

the

workforce

9

development

board

under

this

subsection

,

each

community

10

college,

in

consultation

with

regional

career

and

technical

11

education

planning

partnerships,

and

with

the

approval

of

the

12

board

of

directors

of

the

community

college,

may

identify

and

13

maintain

a

list

of

not

more

than

five

regional

high-demand

jobs

14

in

the

community

college

region,

and

shall

share

the

lists

15

with

the

workforce

development

board.

The

lists

submitted

by

16

community

colleges

under

the

subsection

may

be

used

in

that

17

community

college

region

for

purposes

of

programs

identified

18

under

this

subsection

.

The

workforce

development

board

19

shall

have

full

discretion

to

select

and

prioritize

statewide

20

high-demand

jobs

after

consulting

with

business

and

education

21

stakeholders,

as

appropriate,

and

seeking

public

comment.

The

22

workforce

development

board

may

add

to

the

list

of

high-demand

23

jobs

as

it

deems

necessary.

For

purposes

of

this

subsection

,

24

“high-demand

job”

means

a

job

in

the

state

that

the

board,

or

25

a

community

college

in

accordance

with

this

subsection

,

has

26

identified

in

accordance

with

this

subsection

.

In

creating

27

a

list

under

this

subsection

,

the

following

criteria,

at

a

28

minimum,

shall

apply:

29

Sec.

3.

Section

84A.13,

subsection

3,

paragraph

b,

Code

30

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

31

b.

Whether

the

proposal

increases

the

number

of

eligible

32

students

receiving

financial

assistance

under

the

future

ready

33

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

or

future

ready

34

Iowa

skilled

workforce

grant

programs

program

established

under

35

-2-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

2/

11

H.F.

2396

sections

256.228

and

section

256.229

;

or

increases

the

donation

1

of

books,

transportation,

child

care,

and

other

wrap-around

2

support

to

assist

eligible

students

receiving

financial

3

assistance

under

section

256.228

or

section

256.229

.

4

Sec.

4.

Section

256.7,

subsection

34,

Code

2026,

is

amended

5

by

striking

the

subsection.

6

Sec.

5.

Section

256.194,

subsection

3,

Code

2026,

is

amended

7

by

striking

the

subsection.

8

Sec.

6.

Section

256.227,

subsection

8,

paragraph

b,

Code

9

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

10

b.

Adopt

rules

for

approving

career-technical

or

career

11

option

programs

in

industries

identified

by

the

department

of

12

workforce

development;

determining

financial

need;

defining

13

residence

for

the

purposes

of

this

section

;

processing

and

14

approving

applications

for

grants;

and

determining

priority

for

15

grants.

The

rules

adopted

by

the

commission

shall

not

require

16

a

student

to

attain

any

particular

grade

point

average

to

be

17

awarded

a

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant.

18

Sec.

7.

Section

256.227,

subsection

9,

paragraph

b,

Code

19

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

20

b.

Be

responsible

for

the

submission

of

the

financial

21

information

required

for

evaluation

of

the

applicant’s

need

for

22

a

grant,

including

the

free

application

for

federal

student

23

aid,

on

forms

determined

by

the

commission.

24

Sec.

8.

Section

256.227,

Code

2026,

is

amended

by

adding

the

25

following

new

subsection:

26

NEW

SUBSECTION

.

10.

a.

A

skilled

workforce

shortage

27

tuition

grant

program

fund

is

established

in

the

state

28

treasury.

The

fund

shall

be

administered

by

the

commission

and

29

shall

consist

of

moneys

appropriated

by

the

general

assembly

30

and

other

moneys

received

by

the

commission

for

deposit

in

31

the

fund.

The

moneys

in

the

fund

are

appropriated

to

the

32

commission

for

the

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

33

program.

34

b.

For

the

fiscal

year

commencing

July

1,

2026,

and

each

35

-3-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

3/

11

H.F.

2396

succeeding

fiscal

year,

there

is

appropriated

from

the

general

1

fund

of

the

state

to

the

commission

to

be

credited

to

the

2

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

program

fund

the

3

moneys

necessary

to

pay

all

grants

approved

for

that

fiscal

4

year.

5

Sec.

9.

Section

256.229,

subsection

4,

paragraph

d,

Code

6

2026,

is

amended

by

striking

the

paragraph.

7

Sec.

10.

Section

256.230,

subsection

3,

paragraphs

a

and

b,

8

Code

2026,

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

9

a.

A

full-time

eligible

student

may

receive

an

Iowa

10

workforce

grant

for

not

more

than

four

eight

semesters,

or

11

the

equivalent,

or

until

the

eligible

student

completes

the

12

eligible

program,

whichever

occurs

first.

A

part-time

eligible

13

student

may

receive

the

grant

for

not

more

than

eight

sixteen

14

semesters,

or

the

equivalent,

on

a

prorated

basis,

or

until

15

the

eligible

student

completes

the

eligible

program,

whichever

16

occurs

first.

17

b.

The

amount

of

an

Iowa

workforce

grant

to

a

full-time

18

eligible

student

shall

not

exceed

two

thousand

dollars

per

19

semester,

or

the

equivalent

the

lesser

of

a

student’s

tuition

20

and

fees

for

the

eligible

program

or

the

amount

of

the

21

student’s

financial

need

.

The

amount

of

an

Iowa

workforce

22

grant

to

a

part-time

eligible

student

shall

be

equal

to

the

23

amount

that

would

be

awarded

to

a

full-time

student

except

that

24

the

commission

shall

prorate

the

amount

based

on

the

recipient

25

student’s

semester

hour

or

equivalent

enrollment.

26

Sec.

11.

Section

256.230,

subsection

7,

paragraph

b,

Code

27

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

28

b.

Adopt

rules

under

chapter

17A

for

administration

of

this

29

section

,

including

establishing

the

duties

and

responsibilities

30

of

eligible

institutions

under

the

program,

defining

residence

31

and

satisfactory

academic

progress

for

purposes

of

the

program,

32

determining

financial

need,

and

establishing

procedures

for

33

grant

and

incentive

payment

application,

processing,

and

34

approval.

The

rules

shall

provide

for

determining

the

priority

35

-4-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

4/

11

H.F.

2396

awarding

of

grants

and

incentives

if

moneys

available

for

1

purposes

of

this

section

are

insufficient

to

pay

all

eligible

2

applicants

adopted

by

the

commission

shall

not

require

a

3

student

to

attain

any

particular

grade

point

average

to

be

4

awarded

an

Iowa

workforce

grant

.

5

Sec.

12.

Section

256.230,

subsection

8,

Code

2026,

is

6

amended

to

read

as

follows:

7

8.

Fund

created.

8

a.

An

Iowa

workforce

grant

and

incentive

program

fund

9

is

created

in

the

state

treasury

under

the

control

of

the

10

commission.

All

moneys

deposited

or

paid

into

the

fund

11

are

appropriated

to

the

commission

to

be

used

for

grants

12

and

incentive

payments

awarded

as

provided

in

this

section

.

13

Notwithstanding

section

8.33

,

moneys

in

the

fund

that

remain

14

unencumbered

or

unobligated

at

the

close

of

a

fiscal

year

shall

15

not

revert

but

shall

remain

available

for

expenditure

for

the

16

purposes

designated.

Notwithstanding

section

12C.7,

subsection

17

2

,

interest

or

earnings

on

moneys

in

the

fund

shall

be

credited

18

to

the

fund

and

are

appropriated

to

the

college

student

aid

19

commission

for

purposes

of

administering

any

program

described

20

in

this

subchapter

VII,

part

4

.

21

b.

For

the

fiscal

year

commencing

July

1,

2026,

and

each

22

succeeding

fiscal

year,

there

is

appropriated

from

the

general

23

fund

of

the

state

to

the

commission

to

be

credited

to

the

Iowa

24

workforce

grant

and

incentive

program

fund

the

moneys

necessary

25

to

pay

all

grants

and

incentive

payments

approved

for

that

26

fiscal

year.

27

Sec.

13.

Section

260C.18A,

subsection

2,

paragraph

f,

Code

28

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

29

f.

Development

and

implementation

of

programs

for

the

gap

30

tuition

assistance

program

under

chapter

260I

.

31

Sec.

14.

Section

260I.1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

32

follows:

33

260I.1

Title.

34

This

chapter

shall

be

known

and

may

be

cited

as

the

“Gap

35

-5-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

5/

11

H.F.

2396

Tuition

Assistance

Act”

.

1

Sec.

15.

Section

260I.2,

subsections

1

and

2,

Code

2026,

are

2

amended

to

read

as

follows:

3

1.

A

gap

tuition

assistance

program

is

established

to

4

provide

funding

to

community

colleges

for

need-based

tuition

5

assistance

to

applicants

to

enable

completion

of

continuing

6

education

certificate

training

programs

for

in-demand

7

occupations.

8

2.

a.

There

is

established

for

the

community

colleges

9

a

gap

tuition

assistance

fund

in

the

state

treasury

to

be

10

administered

by

the

department

of

education.

The

funds

in

the

11

gap

tuition

assistance

fund

are

appropriated

to

the

department

12

of

education

for

the

gap

tuition

assistance

program.

13

b.

The

aggregate

total

of

grants

awarded

from

the

gap

14

tuition

assistance

fund

during

a

fiscal

year

shall

not

be

more

15

than

two

million

dollars.

16

c.

Except

as

provided

in

section

260I.10,

subsection

4

,

17

moneys

in

the

fund

shall

be

allocated

pursuant

to

the

formula

18

established

in

section

260C.18C

.

Notwithstanding

section

19

8.33

,

moneys

in

the

fund

at

the

close

of

the

fiscal

year

20

shall

not

revert

to

the

general

fund

of

the

state

but

shall

21

remain

available

for

expenditure

for

the

purpose

designated

22

for

subsequent

fiscal

years.

Notwithstanding

section

12C.7,

23

subsection

2

,

interest

or

earnings

on

moneys

in

the

fund

shall

24

be

credited

to

the

fund.

25

Sec.

16.

Section

260I.3,

subsection

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

26

to

read

as

follows:

27

1.

The

state

board

of

education

shall

adopt

rules

pursuant

28

to

chapter

17A

defining

eligibility

criteria

for

persons

29

applying

to

receive

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

.

30

Sec.

17.

Section

260I.3,

subsection

2,

paragraph

a,

31

unnumbered

paragraph

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

32

follows:

33

An

applicant

for

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

must

34

have

a

demonstrated

capacity

to

achieve

the

following

outcomes:

35

-6-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

6/

11

H.F.

2396

Sec.

18.

Section

260I.3,

subsection

2,

paragraph

b,

1

unnumbered

paragraph

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

2

follows:

3

The

community

college

receiving

the

application

shall

only

4

approve

an

applicant

for

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

5

if

the

community

college

determines

the

applicant

has

a

strong

6

likelihood

of

achieving

the

outcomes

described

in

paragraph

“a”

7

after

considering

factors

including

but

not

limited

to:

8

Sec.

19.

Section

260I.4,

subsections

1

and

3,

Code

2026,

are

9

amended

to

read

as

follows:

10

1.

Only

an

applicant

eligible

to

work

in

the

United

States

11

shall

be

approved

for

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

.

12

3.

Eligibility

for

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

13

shall

not

be

construed

to

guarantee

enrollment

in

any

community

14

college

certificate

program.

15

Sec.

20.

Section

260I.5,

unnumbered

paragraph

1,

Code

2026,

16

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

17

Costs

of

a

certificate

program

eligible

for

coverage

by

18

tuition

assistance

shall

include

but

are

not

limited

to:

19

Sec.

21.

Section

260I.5,

subsection

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

20

by

striking

the

subsection.

21

Sec.

22.

Section

260I.8,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

22

follows:

23

260I.8

Program

interview.

24

An

applicant

for

tuition

assistance

under

this

chapter

shall

25

meet

with

a

member

of

the

staff

for

an

eligible

certificate

26

program

offered

by

the

community

college

receiving

the

27

application.

The

staff

member

shall

discuss

the

relevant

28

industry,

any

applicable

occupational

research,

and

any

29

applicable

training

relating

to

the

eligible

certificate

30

program.

The

discussion

shall

include

an

evaluation

of

31

the

applicant’s

capabilities,

needs,

family

situation,

work

32

history,

educational

background,

attitude

and

motivation,

33

employment

skills,

vocational

and

technical

potential,

and

34

employment

barriers.

The

discussion

shall

also

include

35

-7-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

7/

11

H.F.

2396

potential

start

dates,

support

needs,

and

other

requirements

1

for

an

eligible

certificate

program.

2

Sec.

23.

Section

260I.9,

subsection

1,

unnumbered

paragraph

3

1,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

4

A

participant

in

an

eligible

certificate

program

who

5

receives

tuition

assistance

pursuant

to

this

chapter

shall

do

6

all

of

the

following:

7

Sec.

24.

Section

260I.9,

subsection

2,

Code

2026,

is

amended

8

to

read

as

follows:

9

2.

A

community

college

may

terminate

tuition

assistance

10

for

a

participant

who

fails

to

meet

the

requirements

of

this

11

section

.

12

Sec.

25.

Section

260I.10,

subsections

1

and

3,

Code

2026,

13

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

14

1.

The

department

of

education,

in

coordination

with

the

15

community

colleges,

shall

establish

a

steering

committee.

The

16

steering

committee

shall

determine

if

the

performance

measures

17

of

the

gap

tuition

assistance

program

are

being

met

and

shall

18

take

necessary

steps

to

correct

any

deficiencies.

The

steering

19

committee

shall

meet

at

least

quarterly

to

evaluate

and

monitor

20

the

performance

of

the

gap

tuition

assistance

program.

21

3.

The

department

of

education

shall

coordinate

statewide

22

oversight,

evaluation,

and

reporting

efforts

for

the

gap

23

tuition

assistance

program.

24

Sec.

26.

REPEAL.

Sections

256.192

and

256.228,

Code

2026,

25

are

repealed.

26

Sec.

27.

VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL

TUITION

GRANTS

FUND

AND

27

FUTURE

READY

IOWA

SKILLED

WORKFORCE

LAST-DOLLAR

SCHOLARSHIP

28

FUND

——

TRANSFER

TO

SKILLED

WORKFORCE

SHORTAGE

TUITION

GRANT

29

FUND.

30

1.

Any

moneys

appropriated

to

the

college

student

aid

31

commission

for

deposit

in

the

vocational-technical

tuition

32

grants

fund

established

in

section

256.192,

subsection

8,

that

33

remain

unencumbered

or

unobligated

as

of

July

1,

2026,

shall

34

be

deposited

in

the

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

35

-8-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

8/

11

H.F.

2396

program

fund

created

in

section

256.227,

subsection

10,

as

1

enacted

by

this

Act.

2

2.

Any

moneys

appropriated

to

the

college

student

aid

3

commission

for

deposit

in

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

4

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

fund

established

in

section

5

256.228,

subsection

5,

that

remain

unencumbered

or

unobligated

6

as

of

July

1,

2026,

shall

be

deposited

in

the

skilled

workforce

7

shortage

tuition

grant

program

fund

created

in

section

256.227,

8

subsection

10,

as

enacted

by

this

Act.

9

EXPLANATION

10

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

11

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

12

This

bill

modifies

provisions

related

to

programs

13

administered

by

the

college

student

aid

commission

(CSAC),

14

including

the

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

15

program,

Iowa

workforce

grant

and

incentive

program,

16

vocational-technical

tuition

grant

program,

the

future

ready

17

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

program,

and

the

18

gap

tuition

assistance

program.

19

Under

current

law,

a

grant

under

the

skilled

workforce

20

shortage

tuition

grant

program

may

be

awarded

to

any

resident

21

of

Iowa

who

establishes

financial

need

and

who

is

admitted

22

and

in

attendance

as

a

full-time

or

part-time

student

in

23

a

career-technical

or

career

option

program

to

pursue

an

24

associate’s

degree

or

other

training

at

a

community

college

in

25

the

state.

Currently,

the

maximum

amount

of

a

grant

under

the

26

program

is

one-half

of

the

average

community

college

tuition

27

and

fee

rate.

The

bill

increases

the

maximum

amount

of

a

grant

28

under

the

program

to

100

percent

of

the

average

community

29

college

tuition

and

fee

rate.

The

bill

establishes

a

skilled

30

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

program

fund

in

the

state

31

treasury

and,

beginning

July

1,

2026,

appropriates

from

the

32

general

fund

of

the

state

to

the

fund

the

moneys

necessary

to

33

pay

all

grants

approved

for

that

fiscal

year.

Additionally,

34

the

bill

prohibits

CSAC

from

adopting

rules

that

require

a

35

-9-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

9/

11

H.F.

2396

student

to

attain

any

particular

grade

point

average

to

be

1

awarded

a

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant.

The

bill

2

requires

students

participating

in

the

program

to

submit

the

3

free

application

for

federal

student

aid

to

CSAC

for

evaluation

4

of

need

for

a

grant

under

the

program.

5

Under

current

law,

a

grant

under

the

Iowa

workforce

grant

6

and

incentive

program

may

be

awarded

to

any

resident

of

Iowa

7

who

establishes

financial

need

and

who

is

admitted

and

in

8

attendance

as

a

full-time

or

part-time

student

in

either

a

9

program

of

study

or

an

academic

major

jointly

approved

by

the

10

workforce

development

board

and

the

state

board

of

regents

11

or

a

teacher

preparation

program

that

leads

to

a

bachelor’s

12

degree,

initial

teaching

license,

or

intern

teaching

license.

13

Currently,

the

maximum

amount

of

a

grant

under

the

program

is

14

$2,000

per

semester

for

full-time

students

for

not

more

than

15

four

semesters.

The

bill

increases

the

maximum

amount

of

a

16

grant

under

the

program

to

100

percent

of

the

student’s

tuition

17

and

fees

for

the

eligible

program

and

provides

that

a

full-time

18

student

may

receive

grants

under

the

program

for

not

more

than

19

eight

semesters.

Beginning

July

1,

2026,

the

bill

appropriates

20

from

the

general

fund

of

the

state

to

the

Iowa

workforce

grant

21

and

incentive

program

fund

the

moneys

necessary

to

pay

all

22

grants

approved

for

that

fiscal

year.

Also,

the

bill

prohibits

23

CSAC

from

adopting

rules

that

require

a

student

to

attain

any

24

particular

grade

point

average

to

be

awarded

an

Iowa

workforce

25

grant.

26

Current

Code

section

256.192

establishes

the

27

vocational-technical

tuition

grants

program,

which

provides

28

grants

to

Iowa

residents

who

demonstrate

financial

need

and

who

29

are

enrolled

in

career

or

technical

education

programs

at

Iowa

30

community

colleges.

Current

Code

section

256.228

establishes

31

the

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

32

program,

which

provides

grants

intended

to

cover

any

gap

33

between

federal

and

state

grant

or

scholarship

programs

and

the

34

tuition

and

fees

charged

by

Iowa

community

colleges

to

Iowa

35

-10-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

10/

11

H.F.

2396

residents

who

demonstrate

financial

need

and

who

are

enrolled

1

in

certain

specified

career

or

technical

education

programs

at

2

a

community

college.

The

bill

repeals

Code

sections

256.192

3

and

256.228

and

transfers

any

moneys

appropriated

to

CSAC

for

4

deposit

in

the

vocational-technical

tuition

grants

fund

or

the

5

future

ready

Iowa

skilled

workforce

last-dollar

scholarship

6

fund

that

remain

unencumbered

or

unobligated

as

of

July

1,

7

2026,

to

the

skilled

workforce

shortage

tuition

grant

program

8

fund.

9

The

gap

tuition

assistance

program

provides

funding

to

10

community

colleges

for

need-based

tuition

assistance

to

11

enable

applicants

to

complete

continuing

education

certificate

12

training

programs

for

in-demand

occupations.

Under

current

13

law,

the

gap

tuition

assistance

program

covers,

among

other

14

things,

tuition

costs

for

eligible

certificate

training

15

programs.

The

bill

strikes

this

provision,

leaving

only

the

16

following

costs

to

be

covered

by

the

gap

tuition

assistance

17

program:

direct

training

and

support

services,

required

books

18

and

equipment,

certain

specified

fees,

and

costs

of

providing

19

direct

staff

support

services.

As

a

result

of

this

change,

20

the

bill

changes

the

name

of

this

program

from

the

gap

tuition

21

assistance

program

to

the

gap

assistance

program.

22

The

bill

makes

conforming

changes.

23

-11-

LSB

5266YH

(3)

91

jda/jh

11/

11