BASIC Act of 2026

The bill would create competitive planning grants of up to $200,000 for as long as 2 years and implementation grants of up to $5 million for 5 years. Implementation grants would support at least two activities, such as providing food or temporary housing, helping students apply for benefits, or hiring staff; institutions would have to identify ongoing non-Federal funding to continue those activities after the grant ends.

The Education Secretary would share information with Federal and State benefit agencies to identify potentially eligible applicants, notify them about applying or renewing benefits, and help coordinate enrollment. The bill would require limits on how shared information could be used and would let applicants authorize sharing their information with benefit agencies.

At least 25% of grant funding would be reserved for community colleges, and at least 25% for historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions. The bill would also prioritize institutions where at least 25% of enrolled students are eligible for Pell Grants and require awards to be distributed equitably among states based on population.

A college receiving a grant could not reduce a student's institutional grant because the student receives a benefit from a federally funded program listed in the bill.

The Education Secretary would publish nationally representative statistics on students experiencing food, housing, transportation, child care, or other basic-needs insecurity, with available data broken out by specified student characteristics. The Secretary would also report on progress connecting students to federally funded benefit programs.