Public Law 118-145 | Public Law 118–145: To establish an earlier application processing cycle for the FAFSA.

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PUBLIC LAW 118–145—DEC. 11, 2024

138 STAT. 1671

Public Law

118–145

118th Congress

An Act

To establish an earlier application processing cycle for the FAFSA.

Dec. 11, 2024

[H.R. 8932]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

FAFSA Deadline Act.

SECTION 1.

20 USC 1001 note.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

FAFSA Deadline Act

”.

SEC. 2.

ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLIER APPLICATION PROCESSING CYCLE.

Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4))

is amended

striking

“not later than January 1 of the applicant’s planned year of enrollment, to the maximum extent practicable, on or around October 1 prior to the applicant’s planned year of enrollment” and

inserting

“not later than October 1 prior to the applicant’s planned year of enrollment”.

SEC. 3.

CERTIFICATION AND TESTIMONY REQUIREMENTS.

Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4)) is further amended—

(1)

striking

“The Secretary” and

inserting

the following:

“(A)

In general.—

The Secretary”

; and

(2)

adding

at the end the following:

“(B)

Certification and testimony requirements.—

The Secretary shall, with respect to each application processing cycle, prior to the initiation of such processing cycle—

“(i)

on a date that is not later than September 1—

“(I)

certify to the authorizing committees that the Department will meet the October 1 deadline specified in subparagraph (A) for such processing cycle; or

“(II)

certify to such committees that the Department will not meet such deadline; and

“(ii)

in the case of a certification described in clause (i)(II), on a date that is not later than September 30, testify before the authorizing committees on—

“(I)

the anticipated failure to meet such deadline; and138 STAT. 1672

“(II)

the financial impact such failure will have on students and families.”

Approved December 11, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 8932:

HOUSE REPORTS: ┐No. 118–695 (Comm. on Education and the Workforce).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):

Nov. 15, considered and passed House.

Nov. 20, considered and passed Senate.

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