# 119-hr-10455: Debt-Free College Act of 2026

119-hr-10455, Debt-Free College Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10455
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-10455
- Congress: 119
- Title: Debt-Free College Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI)
- Cosponsors: 18
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-21

## Summary

**This bill would create federal‑State partnerships to expand access to truly _debt‑free college_ for eligible in‑State public students.** It would fund State commitments, set rules for tuition and aid, add a grant program for HBCUs and MSIs, and extend Title IV eligibility to certain Dreamer students. - Students and families: Eligible students would have unmet need covered first for Pell recipients and then for other neediest students, letting more low‑income students attend in‑State public colleges without debt. - States and public institutions: States would receive grants tied to their net State operating support and must submit a Secretary‑approved 5‑year plan. The bill would cap in‑State tuition at current levels with limited annual CPI increases and allows the Secretary to withhold up to 50% of a grant for compliance failures. - HBCUs, MSIs, and eligible private nonprofits: Eligible institutions would get 5‑year grants equal to recent instruction spending, must use at least 95% to cover student unmet need, and follow reporting and tuition/aid maintenance rules. *The measure would authorize at least $84.0 billion for the State partnership and $3.0 billion for the HBCU/MSI program in FY2027, plus additional sums through 2028–2036, representing a substantial increase in federal spending.*

## Cosponsors (18)

- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Debt-free state college grants: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a Federal‑State partnership that gives annual grants to states to make in‑state public college debt‑free for eligible students. It would authorize $84 billion for fiscal year 2027 and such sums as necessary for 2028–2036. Each State's award would equal its net Stat…
- Grants for HBCUs and MSIs: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would create a five‑year grant program for eligible private nonprofit HBCUs, Tribal colleges, and other minority‑serving institutions. It would authorize $3 billion for fiscal year 2027 and such sums as necessary for 2028–2036. Each year's award would be based on the institutio…
- Dreamer students get Title IV: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would add a defined "Dreamer student" category for Title IV federal student aid. You would qualify if you entered the U.S. before age 16, provided a list of U.S. secondary schools attended, and meet at least one pathway: finish or be on track to finish a U.S. high school diplom…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
- 119-hr-2763: American Family Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-10455 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10455)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2086)
- [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10455 (as of 2026-10-21).