Bills · HR 6686
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 6686Education
No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2025
INTRO DEC 12· LAST ACTION DEC 12
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill addresses a common and significant financial burden for college students: the rising cost of textbooks. Textbook prices have increased dramatically over the years, often forcing students to choose between buying essential materials and other necessities, or even dropping courses. If this bill becomes law, it could alleviate some of this financial pressure, making higher education more affordable and accessible, especially for low-income students.
Without this bill, the adoption of free, open educational resources might continue at a slower pace, leaving students to bear the full cost of textbooks. By providing dedicated funding and incentives, the bill aims to accelerate the shift towards no-cost course materials in critical STEM fields, potentially setting a precedent for wider adoption across other disciplines and reducing student debt related to educational supplies.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Authorizes the Institute of Museum and Library Services to award grants to colleges for STEM courses that exclusively use free, publicly available digital reading materials.
This creates a new funding stream to directly support the use of no-cost educational materials in higher education.
PROVISION 02
Defines "open educational reading material" as a free digital text that can be downloaded and redistributed, and "open educational reading material course" as a STEM course using only these materials.
These definitions clearly establish what kind of resources and courses qualify for the grant program, focusing on accessibility and specific academic fields.
PROVISION 03
Requires institutions applying for grants to describe their plans for quality review, faculty and librarian collaboration, and collaboration with other institutions.
This ensures that the transition to free materials is well-planned, maintains academic quality, and fosters a collaborative approach to resource development.
PROVISION 04
Prioritizes grants for institutions with many low-income or minority students, those using library resources, and those offering faculty incentives for adopting free materials.
This provision targets the benefits of cost savings to students who may need it most and encourages faculty participation through supportive measures.
PROVISION 05
Mandates a report to Congress within two years of the first grant award, evaluating the number of grants, the increase in STEM courses using free materials, and the money saved by students.
This provides accountability and data to assess the program's effectiveness and impact on student expenses.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· Illinois
YRS IN OFFICE
18
BILLS LED
38
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSDEC 12
Introduced in House
DEC 12
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 6686
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedDec 12, 2025
Last actionDec 12, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED DEC 12, 2025
House BillHR 6686Education
No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2025
INTRODUCED DEC 12, 2025· LAST ACTION DEC 12, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
