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Creates a competitive federal grant program to expand open textbooks and other open educational resources (OER), requires clearer price and format disclosures for college course materials, encourages faculty to consider OER while preserving academic freedom, and directs a GAO review of textbook costs and implementation within three years. Funds under the grant program must produce openly licensed, freely accessible digital materials; institutions that receive federal funds must publish specified textbook and materials information for each course; and the Secretary of Education must report to Congress about program outcomes starting within two years of enactment.
The high cost of college textbooks continues to be a barrier for many students in achieving higher education. Source:
According to the College Board, during the 2024–2025 academic year, the average student budget for college books and supplies at 4‑year public institutions of higher education was $1,290. Source:
The Government Accountability Office found that new textbook prices increased 82 percent between 2002 and 2012, and it noted that although Federal efforts to increase price transparency have provided more and better information, more must be done to address rising costs. Source:
The growth of the internet has enabled the creation and sharing of digital content, including open educational resources that can be freely used by students, teachers, and members of the public. Source:
According to the Student PIRGs, expanded use of open educational resources has the potential to save students more than a billion dollars annually. Source:
Students: Likely to benefit most through lower textbook costs if institutions and faculty adopt more OER and low-cost options; digital free access for grant-funded materials expands immediate availability.
Institutions of higher education: Will need to adopt new disclosure practices and data collection about course materials, provide schedule information to bookstores, and may compete for grant funding to develop OER; administrative burden is moderate but time-limited reporting and publication tasks are required.
Faculty and educators: Encouraged to consider open textbooks but retain academic freedom; may face additional options and incentives to adopt or adapt OER and to participate in peer review and development efforts.
Campus bookstores and retail providers: Will receive more timely material and schedule information to verify availability and offer lower-cost or alternative formats; market dynamics may shift toward lower-priced or OER-based offerings.
Textbook publishers and commercial materials providers: May face increased market pressure from expanded OER availability and greater price transparency; may need to adjust pricing, formats, or services to remain competitive.
Federal agencies: Department of Education administers grants and reporting; GAO will invest resources to study impacts and compliance; federal oversight increases transparency and evidence about textbook costs and OER effectiveness.
Overall: The bill uses grants, disclosure requirements, and study to lower student costs and expand OER. It creates modest compliance responsibilities for colleges and bookstores but avoids mandates on content selection or publisher pricing.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1398-1399)
Introduced February 26, 2025 by Richard Joseph Durbin · Last progress February 26, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1398-1399)
Introduced in Senate