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H.R. 9414: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026

This bill would make several major changes to the federal Pell Grant program, which provides need-based grants to students for college and job training. In simple terms, it would:

  • Increase the maximum Pell Grant amount over time. The bill sets the maximum Pell Grant at $10,000 for 2026–2027 and raises it by $1,000 each year until it reaches $15,000 in 2031–2032. After that, the maximum would grow with inflation each year.

  • Make Pell Grants a mandatory program. Instead of depending on annual funding decisions, the bill would provide whatever money is needed each year to cover Pell Grants for all eligible students.

  • Give larger grants to some students with very low financial resources. Students whose aid formula results in a negative student aid index would be eligible for a Pell Grant above the normal maximum, by an amount equal to how far below zero their index is.

  • Set a special financial aid rule for students who receive means-tested benefits. For certain applicants, the bill would treat their student aid index as -$1,500 if they or certain family members received means-tested federal benefits within the previous two years. This could increase their Pell Grant eligibility.

  • Expand aid eligibility for Dreamer students. The bill would allow certain undocumented students who meet specified educational, service, or residency-related criteria to qualify for federal student aid, including Pell Grants. It also directs the Education Department to create a hardship exception process for some age-related requirements.

  • Restore and extend Pell Grant lifetime eligibility. It would increase the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18.

  • Change academic progress rules. The bill would modify how colleges determine whether students are making satisfactory academic progress. It would require institutions to give students clearer warnings, allow a warning period and probation period before aid is cut off, and make it easier for students to regain aid after setbacks or after being out of school for two years. It also requires colleges to explain these rules to students before classes begin and on their financial aid webpages.

  • Remove a restriction that can block Pell Grants for some students who receive other scholarships. The bill repeals a rule that made some students ineligible for Pell Grants when their non-federal scholarships and grants covered their full cost of attendance.

  • Make related technical changes. It updates several cross-references in higher education law to match the new Pell Grant structure.

The bill would generally take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply starting with the 2026–2027 award year.

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Sponsors

52 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Jun. 23, 2026 Introduced in House
Jun. 23, 2026 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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