[ad_1]
Welcome the inaugural issue of the TICAS State Policy Digest, a quarterly newsletter that highlights state and federal efforts to increase affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.
Feature
States Stepping Up to Protect Students and Taxpayers
In an unpredictable federal climate, student and borrower-centered state policies are increasingly important. Given efforts to abolish the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, there is both an opportunity and need for state policymakers to strengthen their student and borrower protections. In recent years, many states have been actively strengthening their consumer protections apparatus.
Enacted in 2020, Maryland’s Senate Bill 446 empowers the Maryland Commission for Higher Education to work with the Maryland Attorney General to discharge institutional debt during postsecondary institution closures for colleges that do not establish legitimate teach-out arrangements for its students. Prior to this law, helping students who owed a debt to a school that closed was challenging or impossible.
Signed into law in 2024, Minnesota’s House File 4024 banned incentive-based compensation, including tuition sharing, within the online program manager (OPM) space—the first of its kind in the nation. OPMs are for-profit companies that help colleges create or expand their programs online and offer many other services, including recruiting, marketing, and financial services. TICAS highlighted the Minnesota law in a blog and has commissioned extensive research on OPMs.
In July 2022, New Jersey state leaders enacted the first state-level law to hold career education programs and institutions accountable. They established a “performance quality standard“ that uses a ratio of a career program’s tuition and fees to the average earnings of New Jersey workers employed in that occupation. TICAS’ case study features conversations with state officials to glean more insight into the regulations, potential opportunities for improvement, and guidance for other states to implement similar protections.
TICAS in California, Michigan, and New York
TICAS’ California, Michigan, and New York teams have been gearing up for an impactful advocacy season with their 2025 policy playbooks and priorities.
California: Read our 2025 Playbook
The CA Team is watching: CA Senate Bill 790
Senate Bill 790 (2025)would clear the way for the state to enter into interstate reciprocity agreements that make it easier for institutions to offer courses and programs outside of their home states. However, ceding that authority to a collective has tradeoffs that CA has rejected for years. TICAS’ analysis outlines how SB790 would require the state to waive the enforcement of many of its existing consumer protection laws. modifies statutes around the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, a longtime TICAS priority, by extending access to out-of-state online programs, but even that provision is flawed since those out-of-state colleges would never contribute into the fund and their students could tap into it if they closed abruptly.
Michigan: Read our 2025 Playbook
The MI Team is watching:
Continued efforts to streamline affordable higher education pathways. The Senate is planning to reintroduce a bill to lower the age of eligibility for the Michigan Reconnect program to 21. Doing so will help to encourage Michiganders to pursue a postsecondary degree or skilled certificate whenever they are ready and help the state reach its “60 by 30” attainment goal.
New York: Read our 2025 Policy Priorities
The NY Team is watching: NY Senate Bill 3779
New York’s Senate Bill S3779 (2025)increases the availability of the state need-based grant, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for students from four to six years, aligning with the average time it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree from SUNY or CUNY of more than five years. A TICAS fact sheet explains why extending TAP’s duration is needed so that New York can continue to address the needs of today’s students.
Federal Policy Update
In January, TICAS released its 2025 Federal Policy Agenda, outlining a comprehensive set of priorities to strengthen our nation’s higher education system and ensure it provides equitable opportunities for all Americans to achieve financial security.
As part of its federal policy and advocacy efforts, TICAS:
TICAS Publications and News
December 12, 2024 | Fact Sheet | Income-Driven Repayment 101
January 30, 2025 | Blog Post | House Republican Plan Would Spike Student Loan Payments and Sentence Many to a Lifetime of Debt
February 3, 2025 | Blog Post | New CBO Projections Show the Pell Grant Program Is Facing a Funding Gap This Year
February 25, 2025 | Blog Post | Budget Reconciliation: What’s at Stake for Students Pursuing Higher Education
March 4, 2025 | TICAS Expands State-Level Commitment for Student Protections with the Addition of Christopher J. Madaio
March 17, 2025 | Blog Post | Looming Federal Actions Could Exacerbate Basic Needs Insecurity
State Policy Resources
California Student Aid Commission | CADAA for Mixed-Status Families
WTXL | Hunger-Free Campus Act looking to tackle food insecurity on college campuses with state resources
Georgia Recorder | Georgia House panel advances bill to increase grant access for state college and tech students
Indiana Commission for Higher Education | Hoosiers Value Higher Education: Key findings announced from nine-month research endeavor
Washington Student Achievement Council | WSAC Statement on Financial Aid Applicant Privacy
[ad_2]
