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Across the country, state governments are launching initiatives to either amplify or counteract parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), particularly on issues affecting student loans and grants. A key focus for state legislators has been the federal effort to tie financial aid to an “earnings premium” metric, which measures the link between education and post-graduation income. However, legislation has also been introduced related to the OBBBA’s scholarship tax credit, the expansion of Pell Grants to workforce training programs, and borrowing limits on student loans for college and university degree programs. These efforts carry significant implications for musicologists and music administrators, as they could influence funding availability for students enrolled in graduate or undergraduate music degree programs.
To stay informed, the Society recommends visiting the National Council of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) recently published legislation tracker of state-level responses to education provisions in the OBBBA. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of legislation in progress, offering insights into how states are aligning with or working to counteract federal OBBBA education measures. AMS constituents interested in lobbying their state representatives for or against these measures can use the NCSL’s legislation tracker to stay abreast of developments that may not be well covered on their local news or in the higher education press.
Earlier this month, the AMS and its sister societies submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), raising objections to the proposed rule (arising from the OBBBA) that would implement an “earnings premium” measure for determining access to federal student loans and Pell Grants. This measure has sparked significant concern among music educators because of its potential for limiting funding and support of students pursuing degrees in music and other arts-related fields. This public comment highlighted a number of problems with the DOE rule as currently written. AMS constituents interested in the implications of OBBBA for music and humanities education are encouraged to review the Society’s public comment and related materials to gain a deeper understanding of the issues and potential impacts of legislation in this area.
About AMS Advocacy
The mission of the AMS is to advance our understanding of music and sound. In service of that mission, the AMS regularly engages in advocacy on behalf of music students, teachers, researchers, performers, and other professionals, as well as the wider public that benefits from and supports their work. If you care about AMS advocacy initiatives, please consider joining the AMS or donating to the Society’s unrestricted Annual Giving Fund to show your support.