Relates to increasing the maximum years of study under the tuition assistance program

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Increases the maximum time limits for tuition assistance program awards; increases the maximum number of academic years of study to six.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A508, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Relates to increasing the maximum years of study under the tuition assistance program to an aggregate six years

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 11, 2025Result: passed
(60) (1) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationFeb 3, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Anna Kelles and 14 more on Agora

Democratic16

Show all 16 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Andrew Gounardes says this is needed

Currently, students are only eligible to receive tuition assistance program (TAP) awards for four consecutive years. However, data from SUNY and CUNY show that the average time to degree completion for a bachelors degree is more than five years. Increasing the time students are permit- ted to receive TAP awards will allow more students to afford to complete their degree. Additionally, providing TAP awards for an aggregate of six (or more) years means that students who need to take time off from school will not be penalized by having that time count against them.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 11, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 11, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate

Show full history (6 earlier events)

Feb 11, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 5, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 3, 2025
1ST Report CAL.228
1ST REPORT CAL.228
NY Senate
Jan 29, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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