On November 15, 2024 the U.S. House passed a bill by a vote of 381-1 that would require the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available by October 1st each year. The bill, named the FAFSA Deadline Act, would take effect in 2025 for the 2026-27 FAFSA.
Federal law currently requires the USDE to release the FAFSA on or close to Oct. 1 “to the maximum extent practicable,” though the statute gives the agency until Jan. 1 each year to make the form available. If passed by the Senate, the bill would remove this flexibility and require the U.S. Education Secretary to certify to Congress by Sept. 1 that the agency will meet the October deadline.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate.
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