Bill · S. 4859· Senate(119-S-4859)

Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026

Age: 79 years

Hawaii

Introduced: 6/23/2026
Last activity: 6/23/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sponsored by: Mazie Hirono
Cosponsors: - 29 - 0

Education

Introduced
In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill is called the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026. It aims to improve and fully fund the Federal Pell Grant program for college students. The bill gradually increases the maximum Pell Grant award amount each year until it reaches $15,000, and adjusts it for inflation after that. It also expands who can get these grants, including certain non-citizen students and people who receive means-tested benefits. Additionally, the legislation extends the total number of semesters a student can receive a Pell Grant and changes rules around academic progress.

Yes· 3 of 8

Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+10
The bill increases maximum grant amounts and provides special aid index rules for recipients of means-tested benefits.
Would students be better off under this?+10
The bill increases grant amounts, extends eligibility duration, and reduces academic progress penalties.
Does this make college cost less?+10
The bill significantly increases the maximum Pell Grant amount, protects it against inflation, and expands eligibility to Dreamer students.

The opposite

Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill transitions Pell Grants to a mandatory funding model, which creates a permanent and growing federal spending obligation.