PRIA Logo™
119-s-4528119th CongressWALLET

IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Tim [R-SC]

Introduced

Summary

Competitive grants to modernize Historically Black Colleges and Universities and expand campus technology and workforce facilities. This bill would establish a federal grant program to fund long‑term campus improvements, support high‑speed broadband and emerging‑field equipment, and prioritize institutions with the greatest facility needs and the least capacity to raise funds.

Show full summary
  • Eligible institutions would get competitive grants for construction, renovation, deferred maintenance, broadband, labs, dorms, safety upgrades, and workforce hubs. Grants must supplement existing federal, state, and local funding and may reserve up to 5 percent for master planning and administrative costs.
  • Students at campuses with high shares of Pell‑eligible or need‑based aid would benefit because the program prioritizes institutions that serve those students and those facing environmental or disaster risks.
  • The Secretary could repay outstanding balances and payoff costs tied to certain closed HBCU Capital Financing loans for each covered disbursement, reducing some loan burdens on institutions.
  • Grant recipients must seek contracts from veteran‑owned and HUBZone small businesses, opening procurement opportunities for those firms.
  • The Department of Education must report annually on projects and outcomes. The Comptroller General must study program funding needs and implementation at 2 and 4 years to inform future appropriations.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Loan payoff help for HBCUs

If enacted, the bill would require that each time an eligible institution gets a disbursement under a qualifying closed loan agreement, the Department of Education would repay the outstanding principal, interest, fees, and costs on that disbursement as of the disbursement date. The Department would also reimburse customary payoff costs such as escrow reimbursements and return of fees and deposits. This applies to closed loans made under Part D of Title III before the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, that still had undisbursed loan amounts when that Act was enacted.

Federal grants to upgrade HBCU campuses

If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program at the Department of Education to fund long‑term facility upgrades at eligible HBCUs and related institutions. Grants would pay for construction, renovation, broadband, HVAC and indoor air quality, water and power upgrades, dorms and dining, research equipment, deferred maintenance under a preventative plan, campus transportation, and workforce-training facilities. Grants must supplement, not supplant, other public funds; recipients could reserve up to 5% of a grant for master planning, health/noise protections during construction, personnel, and admin costs, and must submit a facilities master plan within 180 days after receiving funds. The Department would provide technical assistance, require geographic distribution, encourage public/private partnerships, and direct grantees to seek contracts from veteran‑owned and qualified HUBZone small businesses. The bill would authorize "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2027–2032.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Tim [R-SC]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/4/2026

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/10/2026

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 7/23/2026

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/29/2026

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 7/29/2026

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation