HR 8932 — FAFSA Deadline Act

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

 HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

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TITLE IV--STUDENT ASSISTANCE

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Part G--General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs

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SEC. 483. FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID.

 (a) Simplified Application for Federal Student Financial 
Aid.--
 (1) In general.--Each individual seeking to apply for 
 Federal financial aid under this title for award year 
 2024-2025 and any subsequent award year shall file a 
 free application with the Secretary, known as the 
 ``Free Application for Federal Student Aid'', to 
 determine eligibility for such aid, as described in 
 paragraph (2), and in accordance with section 479.
 (2) Free application.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary shall make 
 available, for the purposes of paragraph (1), a 
 free application to determine the eligibility 
 of a student for Federal financial aid under 
 this title.
 (B) Information required by the applicant.--
 (i) In general.--The applicant, and, 
 if necessary, the parents or spouse of 
 the applicant, shall provide the 
 Secretary with the applicable 
 information described in clause (ii) in 
 order to be eligible for Federal 
 financial aid under this title.
 (ii) Information to be provided.--The 
 information described in this clause is 
 the following:
 (I) Name.
 (II) Contact information, 
 including address, phone 
 number, email address, or other 
 electronic address.
 (III) Social security number.
 (IV) Date of birth.
 (V) Marital status.
 (VI) Citizenship status, 
 including alien registration 
 number, if applicable.
 (VII) Sex.
 (VIII) Race or ethnicity, 
 using categories developed in 
 consultation with the Bureau of 
 the Census and the Director of 
 the Institute of Education 
 Sciences that, to the greatest 
 extent practicable, separately 
 capture the racial groups 
 specified in the American 
 Community Survey of the Bureau 
 of the Census.
 (IX) State of legal residence 
 and date of residency.
 (X) The following information 
 on secondary school completion:
 (aa) Name and 
 location of the high 
 school from which the 
 applicant received, or 
 will receive prior to 
 the period of 
 enrollment for which 
 aid is sought, a 
 regular high school 
 diploma;
 (bb) name and 
 location of the entity 
 from which the 
 applicant received, or 
 will receive prior to 
 the period of 
 enrollment for which 
 aid is sought, a 
 recognized equivalent 
 of a regular high 
 school diploma; or
 (cc) if the applicant 
 completed or will 
 complete prior to the 
 period of enrollment 
 for which aid is 
 sought, a secondary 
 school education in a 
 home school setting 
 that is treated as a 
 home school or private 
 school under State law.
 (XI) Name of each institution 
 where the applicant intends to 
 apply for enrollment or 
 continue enrollment.
 (XII) Year in school for 
 period of enrollment for which 
 aid is sought, including 
 whether applicant will have 
 finished first bachelor's 
 degree prior to the period of 
 enrollment for which aid is 
 sought.
 (XIII) Whether one or both of 
 the applicant's parents 
 attended college.
 (XIV) Any required asset 
 information, unless exempt 
 under section 479, in which the 
 applicant shall indicate--
 (aa) the annual 
 amount of child support 
 received, if 
 applicable; and
 (bb) all required 
 asset information not 
 described in item (aa).
 (XV) The number of members of 
 the applicant's family who will 
 also be enrolled in an eligible 
 institution of higher education 
 on at least a half-time basis 
 during the same enrollment 
 period as the applicant.
 (XVI) If the applicant meets 
 any of the following 
 designations:
 (aa) Is an 
 unaccompanied homeless 
 youth, or is 
 unaccompanied, at risk 
 of homelessness, and 
 self-supporting.
 (bb) Is an 
 emancipated minor.
 (cc) Is in legal 
 guardianship.
 (dd) Has been a 
 dependent ward of the 
 court at any time since 
 the applicant turned 
 13.
 (ee) Has been in 
 foster care at any time 
 since the applicant 
 turned 13.
 (ff) Both parents 
 have died since the 
 applicant turned 13.
 (gg) Is a veteran of 
 the Armed Forces of the 
 United States or is 
 serving (on the date of 
 the application) on 
 active duty in the 
 Armed Forces for other 
 than training purposes.
 (hh) Is under the age 
 of 24 and has a 
 dependent child or 
 relative.
 (ii) Does not have 
 access to parental 
 information due to an 
 unusual circumstance 
 described in section 
 480(d)(9).
 (XVII) If the applicant 
 receives or has received any of 
 the following means-tested 
 Federal benefits within the 
 last two years:
 (aa) The supplemental 
 security income program 
 under title XVI of the 
 Social Security Act (42 
 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).
 (bb) The supplemental 
 nutrition assistance 
 program under the Food 
 and Nutrition Act of 
 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
 seq.), a nutrition 
 assistance program 
 carried out under 
 section 19 of such Act 
 (7 U.S.C. 2028), or a 
 supplemental nutrition 
 assistance program 
 carried out under 
 section 3(c) of the Act 
 entitled ``An Act to 
 authorize 
 appropriations for 
 certain insular areas 
 of the United States, 
 and for other 
 purposes'' (Public Law 
 95-348).
 (cc) The free and 
 reduced price school 
 lunch program 
 established under the 
 Richard B. Russell 
 National School Lunch 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
 seq.).
 (dd) The program of 
 block grants for States 
 for temporary 
 assistance for needy 
 families established 
 under part A of title 
 IV of the Social 
 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
 601 et seq.).
 (ee) The special 
 supplemental nutrition 
 program for women, 
 infants, and children 
 established by section 
 17 of the Child 
 Nutrition Act of 1966 
 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
 (ff) The Medicaid 
 program under title XIX 
 of the Social Security 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
 seq.).
 (gg) Federal housing 
 assistance programs, 
 including tenant-based 
 assistance under 
 section 8(o) of the 
 United States Housing 
 Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
 1437f(o)), and public 
 housing, as defined in 
 section 3(b)(1) of such 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 
 1437a(b)(1)).
 (hh) Refundable 
 credit for coverage 
 under a qualified 
 health plan under 
 section 36B of the 
 Internal Revenue Code 
 of 1986.
 (ii) The Earned 
 Income Tax Credit under 
 section 32 of the 
 Internal Revenue Code 
 of 1986.
 (jj) Any other means-
 tested program 
 determined by the 
 Secretary to be 
 appropriate.
 (XVIII) If the applicant, or, 
 if necessary, the parents or 
 spouse of the applicant, 
 reported receiving tax exempt 
 payments from an individual 
 retirement plan (as defined in 
 section 7701 of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986) 
 distribution or from pensions 
 or annuities on a Federal tax 
 return, information as to how 
 much of the individual 
 retirement plan distribution or 
 pension or annuity disbursement 
 was a qualified rollover.
 (XIX) If the applicant, or, 
 if necessary, the parents or 
 spouse of the applicant, 
 reported receiving foreign 
 income that is exempt from 
 Federal taxation or for which a 
 permanent resident of the 
 United States or United States 
 citizen receives a foreign tax 
 credit, information regarding 
 the amount of such foreign 
 income.
 (XX) If the applicant, or, if 
 applicable, the parents or 
 spouse of the applicant, elects 
 to report receiving college 
 grant and scholarship aid 
 included in gross income on a 
 Federal tax return described in 
 section 480(e)(2), information 
 regarding the amount of such 
 aid
 (iii) Prohibition against requesting 
 information more than once.--Any 
 information requested during the 
 process of creating an account for 
 completing the free application under 
 this subsection, shall, to the fullest 
 extent possible, not be required a 
 second time for the same award year, or 
 in a duplicative manner, when 
 completing such free application except 
 in the case of an unusual situation, 
 such as a temporary inability to access 
 an account for completing such free 
 application.
 (iv) Change in family size.--The 
 Secretary shall provide a process by 
 which an applicant shall confirm the 
 accuracy of family size or update the 
 family size with respect to such 
 applicant for purposes of determining 
 the need of such applicant for 
 financial assistance under this title 
 based on a change in family size from 
 the tax year data used for such 
 determination.
 (v) Single question for homeless 
 status.--The Secretary shall ensure 
 that--
 (I) on the form developed 
 under this section for which 
 the information is applicable, 
 there is a single, easily 
 understood screening question 
 to identify an applicant who is 
 an unaccompanied homeless youth 
 or is unaccompanied, at risk of 
 homelessness, and self-
 supporting; and
 (II) such question is 
 distinct from those relating to 
 an individual who does not have 
 access to parental income due 
 to an unusual circumstance.
 (vi) Adjustments.--The Secretary 
 shall disclose on the FAFSA that the 
 student may, on a case-by-case basis, 
 qualify for an adjustment under section 
 479A to the cost of attendance or the 
 values of the data items required to 
 calculate the student's eligibility for 
 a Federal Pell Grant or the student aid 
 index for the student or parent.
 (C) Notification and approval of request for 
 tax return information.--The Secretary shall 
 notify students and borrowers who wish to 
 submit an application for Federal student 
 financial aid under this title (as well as 
 parents and spouses who must sign such an 
 application or request or a Master Promissory 
 Note on behalf of those students and borrowers) 
 of the authority of the Secretary to require 
 that such persons affirmatively approve that 
 the Internal Revenue Service disclose their tax 
 return information as described in section 494.
 (D) Authorizations available to the 
 applicant.--
 (i) Authorization to disclose fafsa 
 information, including a redisclosure 
 of tax return information, to 
 institution, state higher education 
 agency, and designated scholarship 
 organizations.--An applicant and, if 
 necessary, the parents or spouse of the 
 applicant shall provide the Secretary 
 with authorization to disclose to an 
 institution, State higher education 
 agency, and scholarship organizations 
 (designated (prior to the date of 
 enactment of the FUTURE Act (Public Law 
 116-91)) by the Secretary under section 
 483(a)(3)(E)) as in effect on such date 
 of enactment, as specified by the 
 applicant and in accordance with 
 section 494, in order for the 
 applicant's eligibility for Federal 
 financial aid programs, State financial 
 aid programs, institutional financial 
 aid programs, and scholarship programs 
 at scholarship organizations 
 (designated (prior to the date of 
 enactment of the FUTURE Act (Public Law 
 116-91)) by the Secretary under section 
 483(a)(3)(E)) as in effect on such date 
 of enactment, to be determined, the 
 following:
 (I) Information described 
 under section 6103(l)(13) of 
 the Internal Revenue Code of 
 1986.
 (II) All information provided 
 by the applicant on the 
 application described by this 
 subsection to determine the 
 applicant's eligibility for 
 Federal financial aid under 
 this title and for the 
 application, award, and 
 administration of such Federal 
 financial aid, except the name 
 of an institution to which an 
 applicant selects to redisclose 
 information shall not be 
 disclosed to any other 
 institution.
 (ii) Authorization to disclose to 
 benefits programs.--An applicant and, 
 if necessary, the parents or spouse of 
 the applicant may provide the Secretary 
 with authorization to disclose to 
 applicable agencies that handle 
 applications for means-tested Federal 
 benefit programs, as defined in section 
 479(b)(4)(H), all information provided 
 by the applicant on the application 
 described by this subsection as well as 
 such applicant's student aid index and 
 scheduled Federal Pell Grant award to 
 assist in identification, outreach and 
 application efforts for the 
 application, award, and administration 
 of such means-tested Federal benefits 
 programs, except such information shall 
 not include Federal tax information as 
 specified in section 6103(l)(13)(C) of 
 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 (E) Action by the secretary.--Upon 
 receiving--
 (i) an application under this 
 section, the Secretary shall, as soon 
 as practicable, perform the necessary 
 functions with the Commissioner of 
 Internal Revenue to calculate the 
 applicant's student aid index and 
 scheduled award for a Federal Pell 
 Grant, if applicable, assuming full-
 time enrollment for an academic year, 
 and note to the applicant the 
 assumptions relationship to the 
 scheduled award; and
 (ii) an authorization under 
 subparagraph (D), the Secretary shall, 
 as soon as practicable, disclose the 
 information described under such 
 subparagraph, as specified by the 
 applicant, in order for the applicant's 
 eligibility for Federal, State, or 
 institutional student financial aid 
 programs or means-tested Federal 
 benefit programs to be estimated or 
 determined.
 (F) Work study wages.--With respect to an 
 applicant who has received income earned from 
 work under part C of this title, the Secretary 
 shall take the steps necessary to collect 
 information on the amount of such income for 
 the purposes of calculating such applicant's 
 student aid index and scheduled award for a 
 Federal Pell Grant, if applicable, without 
 adding additional questions to the FAFSA, 
 including by collecting such information from 
 institutions of higher education participating 
 in work-study programs under part C of this 
 title.
 (3) Information to be supplied by the secretary of 
 education.--
 (A) In general.--Upon receiving and timely 
 processing a free application that contains the 
 information described in paragraph (2), the 
 Secretary shall provide to the applicant the 
 following information based on full-time 
 attendance for an academic year:
 (i) The estimated dollar amount of a 
 Federal Pell Grant scheduled award for 
 which the applicant is eligible for 
 such award year.
 (ii) Information on other types of 
 Federal financial aid for which the 
 applicant may be eligible (including 
 situations in which the applicant could 
 qualify for 150 percent of a scheduled 
 Federal Pell Grant award and loans made 
 under this title) and how the applicant 
 can find additional information 
 regarding such aid.
 (iii) Consumer-tested information 
 regarding each institution selected by 
 the applicant in accordance with 
 paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(XI), which may 
 include the following:
 (I) The following 
 information, as collected 
 through the Integrated 
 Postsecondary Education Data 
 System or a successor Federal 
 data system as designated by 
 the Secretary:
 (aa) Net price by the 
 income categories, as 
 described under section 
 132(i)(6), and 
 disaggregated by 
 undergraduate and 
 graduate programs, as 
 applicable.
 (bb) Graduation rate.
 (cc) Retention rate.
 (dd) Transfer rate, 
 if available.
 (II) Median debt of students 
 upon completion.
 (III) Institutional default 
 rate, as calculated under 
 section 435.
 (iv) If the student is eligible for a 
 student aid index of less than or equal 
 to zero under section 473, a 
 notification of the Federal means-
 tested benefits that they have not 
 already indicated they receive, but for 
 which they may be eligible, and 
 relevant links and information on how 
 to apply for such benefits.
 (v) Information on education tax 
 benefits described in paragraphs (1) 
 and (2) of section 25A(a) of the 
 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or other 
 applicable education tax benefits 
 determined in consultation with the 
 Secretary of the Treasury.
 (vi) If the individual identified as 
 a veteran, or as serving (on the date 
 of the application) on active duty in 
 the Armed Forces for other than 
 training purposes, information on 
 benefits administered by the Department 
 of Veteran Affairs or Department of 
 Defense, respectively.
 (vii) If applicable, the applicant's 
 current outstanding balance of loans 
 under this title.
 (B) Information provided to the state.--
 (i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
 redisclose, with authorization from the 
 applicant in accordance with paragraph 
 (2)(D)(i), to a State higher education 
 agency administering State-based 
 financial aid and serving the 
 applicant's State of residence, the 
 information described under section 
 6103(l)(13) of the Internal Revenue 
 Code of 1986 and information described 
 in paragraph (2)(B) for the 
 application, award, and administration 
 of grants and other student financial 
 aid provided directly from the State to 
 be determined by such State. Such 
 information shall include the list of 
 institutions provided by the applicant 
 on the application.
 (ii) Use of information.--A State 
 agency administering State-based 
 financial aid--
 (I) shall use the information 
 provided under clause (i) 
 solely for the application, 
 award, and administration of 
 State-based financial aid for 
 which the applicant is 
 eligible;
 (II) may use the information, 
 except for the information 
 described under section 
 6103(l)(13) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986, for State 
 agency research that does not 
 release any individually 
 identifiable information on any 
 applicant to promote college 
 attendance, persistence, and 
 completion;
 (III) may use identifying 
 information provided by student 
 applicants on the FAFSA to 
 determine whether or not a 
 graduating secondary student 
 has filed the application in 
 coordination with local 
 educational agencies or 
 secondary schools to encourage 
 students to complete the 
 application; and
 (IV) may share the 
 application information, 
 excluding the information 
 described under section 
 6103(l)(13) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986, with any 
 other entity, only if such 
 applicant provides explicit 
 written consent of the 
 applicant, except as provided 
 in subclause (III).
 (iii) Limitation on consent 
 process.--A State may provide a consent 
 process whereby an applicant may elect 
 to share the information described in 
 clause (i), except for the information 
 described in section 6103(l)(13) of the 
 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, through 
 explicit written consent to Federal, 
 State, or local government agencies or 
 tribal organizations to assist such 
 applicant in applying for and receiving 
 Federal, State, or local government 
 assistance, or tribal assistance for 
 any component of the applicant's cost 
 of attendance that may include 
 financial assistance or non-monetary 
 assistance.
 (iv) Prohibition.--Any entity that 
 receives applicant information under 
 clause (iii) shall not sell, share, or 
 otherwise use applicant information 
 other than for the purposes outlined in 
 clause (iii).
 (C) Use of information provided to the 
 institution.--An institution--
 (i) shall use the information 
 provided to it solely for the 
 application, award, and administration 
 of financial aid to the applicant;
 (ii) may use the information 
 provided, excluding the information 
 described under section 6013(l)(13) of 
 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for 
 research that does not release any 
 individually identifiable information 
 on any applicant, to promote college 
 attendance, persistence, and 
 completion; and
 (iii) shall not share such 
 educational record information with any 
 other entity without the explicit 
 written consent of the applicant.
 (D) Prohibition.--Any entity that receives 
 applicant information under subparagraph 
 (C)(iii) shall not sell, share, or otherwise 
 use applicant information other than for the 
 purposes outlined in subparagraph (C).
 (E) Fafsa information that includes tax 
 return information.--An applicant's FAFSA 
 information that includes return or return 
 information as described in section 6103(l)(13) 
 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may be 
 disclosed or redisclosed (which shall include 
 obtaining, sharing, or discussing such 
 information) only in accordance with the 
 procedures described in section 494.
 (4) Development of form and information exchange.--
 Prior to the design of the free application under this 
 subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
 practicable, on an annual basis--
 (A) consult with stakeholders to gather 
 information about innovations and technology 
 available to--
 (i) ensure an efficient and effective 
 process;
 (ii) mitigate unintended 
 consequences; and
 (iii) determine the best practices 
 for outreach to students and families 
 during the transition to the 
 streamlined process for the 
 determination of Federal financial aid 
 and Federal Pell Grant eligibility 
 while reducing the data burden on 
 applicants and families; and
 (B) solicit public comments for the format of 
 the free application that provides for adequate 
 time to incorporate feedback prior to 
 development of the application for the 
 succeeding award year.
 (5) No additional information requests permitted.--In 
 carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may not 
 require additional information to be submitted by an 
 applicant (or the parents or spouse of an applicant) 
 for Federal financial aid through other requirements or 
 reporting, except as required under a process or 
 procedure exercised in accordance with the authority 
 under section 479A.
 (6) State-run programs.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct 
 outreach to States in order to research the 
 benefits to students of States relying solely 
 on the student aid index, scheduled Pell Grant 
 Award, or the financial data made available, 
 upon authorization by the applicant, as a 
 result of an application for aid under this 
 subsection for determining the eligibility of 
 the applicant for State provided financial aid.
 (B) Secretarial review.--If a State 
 determines that there is a need for additional 
 data elements beyond those provided pursuant to 
 this subsection for determining the eligibility 
 of an applicant for State provided financial 
 aid, the State shall forward a list of those 
 additional data elements determined necessary, 
 but not provided by virtue of the application 
 under this subsection, to the Secretary. The 
 Secretary shall make readily available to the 
 public through the Department's websites and 
 other means--
 (i) a list of States that do not 
 require additional financial 
 information separate from the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid and 
 do not require asset information from 
 students who qualify for the exemption 
 from asset reporting under section 479 
 for the purposes of awarding State 
 scholarships and grant aid;
 (ii) a list of States that require 
 asset information from students who 
 qualify for the exemption from asset 
 reporting under section 479 for the 
 purposes of awarding State scholarships 
 and grant aid;
 (iii) a list of States that have 
 indicated that they require additional 
 financial information separate from the 
 Free Application for Federal Student 
 Aid for purposes of awarding State 
 scholarships and grant aid; and
 (iv) with the publication of the 
 lists under this subparagraph, 
 information about additional resources 
 available to applicants, including 
 links to such State websites.
 (7) Institution-run financial aid.--
 (A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct 
 outreach to institutions of higher education to 
 describe the benefits to students of relying 
 solely on the student aid index, scheduled Pell 
 Grant Award, or the financial data made 
 available, upon authorization for release by 
 the applicant, as a result of an application 
 for aid under this subsection for determining 
 the eligibility of the applicant for 
 institutional financial aid. The Secretary 
 shall make readily available to the public 
 through its websites and other means--
 (i) a list of institutions that do 
 not require additional financial 
 information separate from the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid and 
 do not require asset information from 
 students who qualify for the exemption 
 from asset reporting under section 479 
 for the purpose of awarding 
 institution-run financial aid;
 (ii) a list of institutions that 
 require asset information from students 
 who qualify for the exemption from 
 asset reporting under section 479 for 
 the purpose of awarding institution-run 
 financial aid;
 (iii) a list of institutions that 
 require additional financial 
 information separate from the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid for 
 the purpose of awarding institution-run 
 financial aid; and
 (iv) with the publication of the list 
 in clause (iii), information about 
 additional resources available to 
 applicants.
 (8) Security of data.--The Secretary shall, in 
 consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury--
 (A) take all necessary steps to safeguard the 
 data required to be transmitted for the purpose 
 of this section between Federal agencies and to 
 States and institutions of higher education and 
 secure the transmittal of such data;
 (B) provide guidance to States and 
 institutions of higher education regarding 
 their obligation to ensure the security of the 
 data provided under this section and section 
 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
 (C) provide guidance on the implementation of 
 section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
 1986, including how it intersects with the 
 provisions of section 444 of the General 
 Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the 
 ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 
 1974''), and any additional consent processes 
 that may be available to applicants in 
 accordance with the Internal Revenue Code of 
 1986 regarding sharing of Federal tax 
 information.
 (9) Report to congress.--
 (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after 
 the date of enactment of the FAFSA 
 Simplification Act, the Secretary shall report 
 to the authorizing committees on the progress 
 of the Secretary in carrying out this 
 subsection, including planning and stakeholder 
 consultation. Such report shall include--
 (i) benchmarks for implementation;
 (ii) entities and organizations that 
 the Secretary consulted;
 (iii) system requirements for such 
 implementation and how they will be 
 addressed;
 (iv) any areas of concern and 
 potential problem issues uncovered that 
 may hamper such implementation; and
 (v) solutions determined to address 
 such issues.
 (B) Updates.--The Secretary shall provide 
 updates to the authorizing committees--
 (i) as to the progress and planning 
 described in subparagraph (A) prior to 
 implementation of the revisions to the 
 Free Application for Federal Student 
 Aid under this subsection not less 
 often than quarterly; and
 (ii) at least 6 months and 1 year 
 after implementation of the revisions 
 to the Free Application for Federal 
 Student Aid.
 (b) Adjustments and Improvements.--
 (1) In general.--The Secretary shall disclose in a 
 consumer-tested format, upon completion of the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid under this section, 
 that the student may, on a case-by-case basis, qualify 
 for an adjustment under section 479A to the cost of 
 attendance or the values of the data items required to 
 calculate the Federal Pell Grant or the need analysis 
 for the student or parent. Such disclosure shall 
 specify--
 (A) examples of the special circumstances 
 under which a student or family member may 
 qualify for such adjustment or determination of 
 independence; and
 (B) additional information regarding the 
 steps a student or family member may take in 
 order to seek an adjustment under section 479A.
 (2) Consumer testing.--
 (A) In general.--Not later than 9 months 
 after the date of enactment of the FAFSA 
 Simplification Act, the Secretary shall begin 
 consumer testing the design of the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid under this 
 section with prospective first-generation 
 college students, representatives of students 
 (including low-income students, English 
 learners, first-generation college students, 
 adult students, veterans, servicemembers, and 
 prospective students), students' families 
 (including low-income families, families with 
 English learners, families with first-
 generation college students, and families with 
 prospective students), institutions of higher 
 education, secondary school and postsecondary 
 counselors, and nonprofit consumer groups.
 (B) Updates.--For award year 2024-2025 and at 
 least each fourth succeeding award year 
 thereafter, the Secretary shall update the 
 design of the Free Application for Federal 
 Student Aid based on additional consumer 
 testing with the populations described in 
 subparagraph (A) in order to improve the 
 usability and accessibility of the application.
 (3) Accessibility of the fafsa.--The Secretary 
 shall--
 (A) in conjunction with the Bureau of the 
 Census, determine the most common languages 
 spoken by English learner students and their 
 parents in the United States;
 (B) develop and make publicly available 
 versions of the Free Application for Federal 
 Student Aid form in not fewer than 11 of the 
 most common languages determined under 
 subparagraph (A) and make such versions 
 available and accessible to applicants in paper 
 and electronic formats; and
 (C) ensure that the Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid is available in formats 
 accessible to individuals with disabilities and 
 compliant with the most recent Web Content 
 Accessibility Guidelines, or successor 
 guidelines.
 (4) Reapplication in a succeeding academic year.--In 
 order to streamline an applicant's experience in 
 applying for financial aid, the Secretary shall allow 
 an applicant who electronically applies for financial 
 assistance under this title for an academic year 
 subsequent to an academic year for which such applicant 
 applied for financial assistance under this title to 
 automatically electronically import all of the 
 applicant's (including parents', guardians', or 
 spouses', as applicable) identifying, demographic, and 
 school data from the previous application and to update 
 such information to reflect any circumstances that have 
 changed.
 (5) Technology accessibility.--The Secretary shall 
 make the application under this section available 
 through prevalent technology. Such technology shall, at 
 a minimum, enable applicants to--
 (A) save data; and
 (B) submit the application under this title 
 to the Secretary through such technology.
 (6) Verification burden.--The Secretary shall--
 (A) to the maximum extent practicable, 
 streamline and simplify the process of 
 verification for applicants for Federal 
 financial aid;
 (B) in establishing policies and procedures 
 to verify applicants' eligibility for Federal 
 financial aid, consider--
 (i) the burden placed on low-income 
 applicants;
 (ii) the risk to low-income 
 applicants of failing to complete the 
 application, enroll in college, or 
 complete a postsecondary credential as 
 a result of being selected for 
 verification;
 (iii) the effectiveness of the 
 policies and procedures in preventing 
 overpayments; and
 (iv) the reasons for the source of 
 any improper payments; and
 (C) issue a public report not less often than 
 annually that includes the number and 
 percentage of applicants subject to 
 verification, whether the applicants ultimately 
 received Federal financial aid disbursements, 
 the extent to which the student aid index 
 changed for such applicants as a result of 
 verification, and the extent to which such 
 applicants' eligibility for Federal financial 
 aid under this title changed.
 (7) Studies.--The Secretary shall periodically 
 conduct studies on--
 (A) whether the Free Application for Federal 
 Student Aid is a barrier to college enrollment 
 by examining--
 (i) the effect of States requiring 
 additional information specified in 
 clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection 
 (a)(6)(B) on the determination of State 
 financial aid awards, including--
 (I) how much financial aid 
 awards would change if the 
 additional information were not 
 required; and
 (II) the number of students 
 who started but did not finish 
 the Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid, compared 
 to the baseline year of 2021; 
 and
 (ii) the number of students who--
 (I) started a Free 
 Application for Federal Student 
 Aid but did not receive 
 financial assistance under this 
 title for the applicable 
 academic year; and
 (II) if available, did not 
 enroll in an institution of 
 higher education in the 
 applicable academic year;
 (B) the most common barriers faced by 
 applicants in completing the Free Application 
 for Federal Student Aid; and
 (C) the most common reasons that students and 
 families do not fill out the Free Applications 
 for Federal Student Aid.
 (c) Data and Information.--
 (1) In general.--The Secretary shall publish data in 
 a publicly accessible manner--
 (A) annually on the total number of Free 
 Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted 
 by application cycle, disaggregated by 
 demographic characteristics, type of 
 institution or institutions of higher education 
 to which the applicant applied, the applicant's 
 State of legal residence, and high school and 
 public school district;
 (B) quarterly on the total number of Free 
 Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted 
 by application cycle, disaggregated by type of 
 institution or institutions of higher education 
 to which the applicant applied, the applicant's 
 State of legal residence, and high school and 
 public school district;
 (C) weekly on the total number of Free 
 Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted, 
 disaggregated by high school and public school 
 district; and
 (D) annually on the number of individuals who 
 apply for federal financial aid pursuant to 
 this section who indicated that they are--
 (i) an unaccompanied homeless youth 
 or unaccompanied, at risk of 
 homelessness, and self-supporting; or
 (ii) a foster care youth.
 (2) Contents.--The data described in paragraph (1)(D) 
 with respect to homeless youth shall include, at a 
 minimum, for each application cycle--
 (A) the total number of all applicants who 
 were determined to be individuals described in 
 section 480(d)(8); and
 (B) the number of applicants described in 
 subparagraph (A), disaggregated--
 (i) by State; and
 (ii) by the sources of determination 
 as described in section 479D(b).
 (3) Data sharing.--The Secretary may enter into data 
 sharing agreements with the appropriate Federal or 
 State agencies to conduct outreach regarding, and 
 connect applicants directly with, the means-tested 
 Federal benefit programs described in subsection 
 (a)(2)(B)(ii)(XVII) for which the applicants may be 
 eligible.
 (d) Ensuring Form Usability.--
 (1) Signature.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
 of this title, the Secretary may permit the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid to be submitted 
 without a signature, if a signature is subsequently 
 submitted by the applicant, or if the applicant uses an 
 access device provided by the Secretary.
 (2) Free preparation authorized.--Notwithstanding any 
 other provision of this title, an applicant may use a 
 preparer for consultative or preparation services for 
 the completion of the Free Application for Federal 
 Student Aid without charging a fee to the applicant if 
 the preparer--
 (A) includes, at the time the application is 
 submitted to the Department, the name, address 
 or employer's address, social security number 
 or employer identification number, and 
 organizational affiliation of the preparer on 
 the applicant's form;
 (B) is subject to the same penalties as an 
 applicant for purposely giving false or 
 misleading information in the application;
 (C) clearly informs each individual upon 
 initial contact, that the Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid is a free form that may be 
 completed without professional assistance; and
 (D) does not produce, use, or disseminate any 
 other form for the purpose of applying for 
 Federal financial aid other than the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid developed 
 by the Secretary under this section.
 (3) Charges to students and parents for use of forms 
 prohibited.--The need for and eligibility of a student 
 for financial assistance under this title may be 
 determined only by using the Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid developed by the Secretary under 
 this section. Such application shall be produced, 
 distributed, and processed by the Secretary, and no 
 parent or student shall be charged a fee by the 
 Secretary, a contractor, a third-party servicer or 
 private software provider, or any other public or 
 private entity for the collection, processing, or 
 delivery of Federal financial aid through the use of 
 such application. No data collected on a form for which 
 a fee is charged shall be used to complete the Free 
 Application for Federal Student Aid prescribed under 
 this section, except that a Federal or State income tax 
 form prepared by a paid income tax preparer or preparer 
 service for the primary purpose of filing a Federal or 
 State income tax return may be used to complete the 
 Free Application for Federal Student Aid prescribed 
 under this section.
 (4) Application processing cycle.--[The Secretary]
 (A) In general.--The Secretary shall enable 
 applicants to submit a Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid developed under this 
 section and initiate the processing of such 
 application, [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] not later than October 1 prior 
 to the applicant's planned year of enrollment.
 (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; and
 (II) the financial impact 
 such failure will have on 
 students and families.
 (5) Early estimates.--The Secretary shall maintain an 
 electronic method for applicants to enter income and 
 family size information to calculate a non-binding 
 estimate of the applicant's Federal financial aid 
 available under this title and shall place such 
 calculator on a prominent location at the beginning of 
 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
 (6) Additional forms.--Notwithstanding any other 
 provision of this title, an institution may not 
 condition the packaging or receipt of Federal financial 
 aid on the completion of additional requests for 
 financial information beyond the Free Application for 
 Federal Student Aid, unless such information is 
 required for verification, a determination of 
 independence, or professional judgement.

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