Sponsors (14)
Official title: Provide for the long-term improvement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 14, 2026 by Tim Scott · Last progress May 14, 2026
The bill directs significant federal resources to modernize and connect HBCUs and other colleges—improving facilities, health/safety, research capacity, and contracting opportunities—while trading off increased federal spending, competitive award gaps that leave some institutions unfunded, and added administrative and procurement burdens for schools and taxpayers.
Students, faculty, and staff at HBCUs and other colleges will get repaired and modernized campus facilities (e.g., upgraded labs, housing, utilities, safety systems, and health/safety remediation), improving safety, learning, and usability.
Students (particularly low-income and Pell-eligible students) and rural campus communities will gain expanded broadband and connectivity (middle‑mile, fiber, last‑mile), supporting digital learning and access to online resources.
Colleges, students, and regional workforces will benefit from increased research capacity and workforce development (funding specialized equipment for AI, biotech, advanced manufacturing and establishing workforce/AI hubs), supporting jobs and skill-building.
All taxpayers face increased federal spending risk because the bill authorizes open‑ended “such sums as may be necessary” and includes provisions (loan repayments, grants, technical assistance) that raise budgetary commitments without specified offsets.
Many needy colleges and HBCUs will remain unfunded in any given year because the program is grant‑based and competitive, potentially prolonging deferred maintenance and unequal campus conditions across institutions.
Colleges (especially smaller institutions) will bear new administrative and compliance burdens—tight 180‑day master plan timelines, detailed reporting, and a 5% administrative cap—that may increase costs, divert staff time, and force institutions to shift operating funds away from other needs.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program for HBCU campus infrastructure/technology projects, requires master plans, mandates certain small‑business procurements, and repays some pre‑2021 HBCU capital loan balances.
Creates a competitive federal grant program to fund long-term campus infrastructure, technology, safety, and planning projects at eligible Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Grants may be used for construction, modernization, research equipment, broadband and digital infrastructure, workforce hubs, utilities, and other capital projects, with requirements for master plans, prioritization based on need, and small-business procurement targets. Directs the Secretary of Education to repay certain outstanding balances on pre-2021 closed HBCU capital financing loans that had undisbursed amounts, requires reporting and GAO evaluations of program funding needs and implementation, and authorizes “such sums as may be necessary” for fiscal years 2027–2032 without specifying dollar amounts.