Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative LaHood
Introduced
Summary
Creates a tax-free exclusion for certain post-graduation scholarship loan-repayment grants. The exclusion applies when a qualifying 501(c)(3) private foundation or community trust repays an individual’s education loan and requires the recipient to live and work in an eligible low-degree community.
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- Graduates and borrowers: Payments that meet the rules are excluded from gross income when made directly to the loan holder. Interest paid as part of these grants cannot also be claimed under the student loan interest rules.
- Nonprofit grantmakers: Eligible grants must come from specified 501(c)(3) private foundations or community trusts and cannot go to employees or related entities. The bill treats these grants as qualified scholarships under private foundation spending rules.
- Communities and oversight: "Applicable communities" are areas with bachelor's attainment below the state or national average using Census data, and the Secretary can set reporting rules. The Treasury must report to Congress within 3 years and periodically after, and the Comptroller General must study program details within 5 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tax-free student loan repayments
If enacted, you would not include certain post-graduation scholarship grants that repay student loans in your taxable income. Grants must be paid by a qualifying 501(c)(3) private foundation or community trust. Grants must repay a qualified education loan, pay the loan holder directly, require you to live and work in an eligible community, and not go to employees of the grantor. Any interest paid and excluded here would not be allowed again under the student loan interest deduction. The rule would apply to tax years starting after enactment.
Private foundation grant tax rule
If enacted, qualifying post-graduation scholarship grants would not count as taxable expenditures for private foundations. This change would apply only to grants that meet the bill's definition. The change may reduce tax risk for foundations and could encourage this kind of grantmaking. It would take effect for tax years beginning after enactment.
Treasury and GAO reporting for grants
If enacted, the Treasury would write rules and reporting for the new grant exclusion. The Treasury must report to Congress on implementation and effectiveness within 3 years and periodically after that. The Comptroller General must publish a study within 5 years showing grant length, amounts paid, fund disposition, and the loan holders who benefited.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
LaHood
IL • R
Cosponsors
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov