Allows for a modest increase in annual income to not disqualify someone from the excelsior scholarship

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Allows for a modest increase in annual income, not greater than three percent per year, to not disqualify someone from the excelsior scholarship.

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 A7938, 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

The bill amends the relevant section in the education law to allow for a modest increase in adjusted gross income when determining eligibility during subsequent semesters. The bill allows for a scholarship recipi- ent's adjusted gross income to increase by 3 percent after the first semester of such scholarship, and it allows for that recipient's adjusted gross income to increase further at the discretion of the High- er Education Services Corporation.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(18) (3) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 9, 2025Result: passed
(54) (8) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Nathalia Fernandez

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Jamaal Bailey says this is needed

To qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship Program, which affords students the opportunity to attend CUNY and SUNY colleges for free, the household income of the applicant cannot exceed $125,000. This cap on income does not take into account modest wage increases that may cover certain living expenses, but certainly not the growing costs associated with going to college.

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
Jun 9, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate

Show full history (7 earlier events)

Jun 9, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1693
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1693
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Apr 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Mar 12, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate

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 3, 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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