Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting organizations to expand the scope and community reach of college access and success programs.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2997
Ordered by the House March 24
Including House Amendments dated March 24
Sponsored by Representative RUIZ, Senator GORSEK (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act requires HECC to create a grant program for college access and success. The
Act sets the criteria for a grant to be given. (Flesch Readability Score: 79.0).
Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish a grant program for the
purpose of supporting organizations to expand the scope and community reach of college access and
success programs. Details the eligibility criteria to receive a grant and the factors the commission
must consider when awarding grants.
Appropriates moneys to the commission for purposes of the program.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to higher education; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall establish a grant
program for the purpose of supporting organizations to expand the scope and community
reach of college access and success programs.
(2) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an organization must:
(a) Be a not-for-profit corporation that is tax exempt under section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code;
(b) Be a community-based organization; or
(c) Be a public institution of higher education as defined in ORS 350.260.
(3) In awarding grants under this section, the commission shall consider whether an eli-
gible organization under subsection (2) of this section has a demonstrated history of provid-
ing:
(a) Successful college access and success programs; and
(b) Programs and services to populations that are historically underserved in post-
secondary institutions of education.
(4) The commission shall adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section,
including any rules related to:
(a) Specifying the form and timelines for submitting an application for a grant under this
section;
(b) Determining whether an organization is eligible for a grant under this section;
(c) Calculating the amount to award to grant recipients under this section; and
(d) Collecting data required to evaluate program effectiveness.
SECTION 2.
There is appropriated to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, for
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1625
A-Eng. HB 2997
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the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $5,000,000 for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 3.
This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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