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Bill > HB628


MS HB628

MS HB628
MTAG; revise and rename as the MS Resident Tuition Assistance and Workforce Acceleration Grant Program to expand access to certain student populations.


summary

Introduced
01/15/2025
In Committee
01/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Amend Section 37-106-29, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise And Rename The Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant As The Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance And Workforce Acceleration Grant (mtawag); To Prescribe The Criteria For Eligibility; To Remove The Exclusion Which Prohibits Recipients Of Pell Grant Funds From Receiving Funds Under The Mtawag; To Make Mtawag Funds Available To Full- And Part-time Students To Include Working Adult Learnings As Eligible For Receipt Of Funds To The Acquisition Of A Baccalaureate Or Associate Degree Or Certified Credential; To Eliminate The Initial Academic Requirements For Those Individuals Who Have Been Out Of High School For Extended Periods And Desire To Return To Postsecondary Educational Learning To Earn A Degree Or Credential; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill revises and renames the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) to the Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance and Workforce Acceleration Grant (MTAWAG), expanding access to student financial aid. The key changes include removing previous restrictions that excluded Pell Grant recipients, allowing both full-time and part-time students (including working adult learners) to apply, and eliminating initial academic requirements for students who have been out of high school for an extended period. To be eligible, students must be Mississippi residents, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP), and be accepted to an approved in-state institution of higher education. The grant provides up to $1,000 for junior and senior students and $500 for freshmen and sophomores to cover tuition, rooms and meals, books, materials, and fees. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and a minimum 2.50 GPA to renew the grant, which can be used for one baccalaureate degree, certificate, or associate degree program. The bill aims to make higher education more accessible by supporting a broader range of students, particularly those returning to education after an extended break.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)

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