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

Currently, the maximum amount of a grant under the program is one-half of the average community college tuition and fee rate. The bill increases the maximum amount of a grant under the program to 100 percent of the average community college tuition and fee rate. The bill establishes a skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program fund in the state treasury and, beginning July 1, 2026, appropriates from the general fund of the state to the fund the moneys necessary to pay all grants approved for that fiscal year. Additionally, the bill prohibits CSAC from adopting rules that require a student to attain any particular grade point average to be awarded a skilled workforce shortage tuition grant. The bill requires students participating in the program to submit the free application for federal student aid to CSAC for evaluation of need for a grant under the program. Under current law, a grant under the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program may be awarded to any resident of Iowa who establishes financial need and who is admitted and in attendance as a full-time or part-time student in either a program of study or an academic major jointly approved by the workforce development board and the state board of regents or a teacher preparation program that leads to a bachelor’s degree, initial teaching license, or intern teaching license. Currently, the maximum amount of a grant under the program is $2,000 per semester for full-time students for not more than four semesters. The bill increases the maximum amount of a grant under the program to 100 percent of the student’s tuition and fees for the eligible program and provides that a full-time student may receive grants under the program for not more than eight semesters. Beginning July 1, 2026, the bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program fund the moneys necessary to pay all grants approved for that fiscal year. Also, the bill prohibits CSAC from adopting rules that require a student to attain any particular grade point average to be awarded an Iowa workforce grant.192 establishes the vocational-technical tuition grants program, which provides grants to Iowa residents who demonstrate financial need and who are enrolled in career or technical education programs at Iowa community colleges.228 establishes the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, which provides grants intended to cover any gap between federal and state grant or scholarship programs and the tuition and fees charged by Iowa community colleges to Iowa residents who demonstrate financial need and who are enrolled in certain specified career or technical education programs at a community college.228 and transfers any moneys appropriated to CSAC for deposit in the vocational-technical tuition grants fund or the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated as of July 1, 2026, to the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant program fund. The gap tuition assistance program provides funding to community colleges for need-based tuition assistance to enable applicants to complete continuing education certificate training programs for in-demand occupations. Under current law, the gap tuition assistance program covers, among other things, tuition costs for eligible certificate training programs. The bill strikes this provision, leaving only the following costs to be covered by the gap tuition assistance program: direct training and support services, required books and equipment, certain specified fees, and costs of providing direct staff support services. As a result of this change, the bill changes the name of this program from the gap tuition assistance program to the gap assistance program. The bill makes conforming changes.