Relates to scholarships for academic excellence

Latest action Nov 21, 2025

Provides that a scholarship for academic excellence that is declined by a student prior to the end of their high school program shall be granted to the next most qualified student, if practicable.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Signed into law.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A7053, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A7053, the matching Assembly bill.

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 purpose of this bill is to enable Scholarships for Academic Excel- lence to be fully utilized.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 12, 2025Result: passedSenate vote on A7053, the matching Assembly bill.
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Judy Griffin, Kwani O'Pharrow and 3 more on Agora

Democratic5

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

Current law provides for 8,000 Scholarships for Academic Excellence annually. The top scholar of each public or private high school in the state is eligible for a scholarship and the remaining balance of the awards are distributed to students using a weighted average of scores from certain Regents examinations. Unfortunately, if a student declines the scholarship or such scholarship is revoked, the scholarship goes unused. This legislation would award the scholarship to the next most qualified student in the event that a student declines an award.

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

Nov 21, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.526
NY Assembly
Nov 17, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
3RD Reading CAL.1180
3RD READING CAL.1180
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S7580A
NY Senate

Show full history (14 earlier events)

May 29, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Rules Report CAL.334
RULES REPORT CAL.334
NY Assembly
May 27, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
May 22, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
Amended
AMENDED 7580A
NY Senate
May 20, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1180
1ST REPORT CAL.1180
NY Senate
May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
May 16, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Higher Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Apr 22, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Mar 20, 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 Oct 22, 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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