Senate Passes Bridges Bill to Help Students Afford College

May 2, 2019

Denver, CO – The Colorado State Senate today voted 21-to-14 to pass HB19-1187, Increase Student Aid Application Completion Rates, a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges (D-Greenwood Village) that will help more students afford college by increasing student aid application rates across the state. The bill now heads to Governor Polis for his signature.

During the 2015-16 academic year, approximately $50 million worth of federal dollars were unclaimed because Colorado students did not complete or submit the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). Colorado currently has the lowest FAFSA completion rate in the nation. This bill will make it easier to complete those applications, ultimately helping many Coloradans afford a college degree.

“No other bill this year will have a greater return on investment than this one. We’re leaving federal dollars on the table that could help Coloradans graduate without a mountain of debt,” said Senator Bridges. “This bill is good for our economy and our Colorado kids.”

This bill requires the General Assembly to provide funding to the state board of education who will allocate the funds to education providers in order to help low-income students and families complete and submit applications for federal or state student aid. 

For more information on this bill please visit: http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1187.

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