{"id":5810,"date":"2026-01-21T11:45:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/?page_id=5810"},"modified":"2026-01-21T13:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T21:15:04","slug":"legislative-updates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/legislative-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mkoe5zu8-734c579f3b0e0c59946e4536a5dd63d2\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mkoe5zu8-734c579f3b0e0c59946e4536a5dd63d2{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mkoe5zu8-734c579f3b0e0c59946e4536a5dd63d2 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mkoe5zu8-734c579f3b0e0c59946e4536a5dd63d2 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mkoe5zu8-734c579f3b0e0c59946e4536a5dd63d2 av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Legislative Updates<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-3xxv3m-dc3fd40b272b6dadf8e55655b86fe174 hr-default  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_one_fifth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5ufkj6-d4a9e158dd8243ef51aa146e8a630f39 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_three_fifth  first flex_column_div  '     ><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-4iygr6-03ce02d2a27265ad4352ed435ec68e66 av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_one_fifth  flex_column_div  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mkoe8p33-aee613b9cf7b22d4646817099b80f902\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mkoe8p33-aee613b9cf7b22d4646817099b80f902 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mkoe8p33-aee613b9cf7b22d4646817099b80f902 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mkoe8p33-aee613b9cf7b22d4646817099b80f902 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-4  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter.webp 1024w,https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-300x150.webp 300w,https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-768x384.webp 768w,https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-705x353.webp 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter.jpg\" height=\"512\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/TEACH-Grant-Southern-Oregon-University-Financial-Aid-on-Twitter-705x353.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" class=\"wp-image-2892 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2892 avia_image  sp-no-webp\" alt=\"TEACH Grant Southern Oregon University Financial Aid on Twitter\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  > <\/picture><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-2rx382-e080e8d08e486c594a8c9d780a39f362 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_three_fifth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div  '     ><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-25d6tu-fd1efd6b457fe00837e39953286fa1b0 hr-default  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mkofkvt1-4509dd6fbda66b342f4e946364ffabbe '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA or OB3)<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Signed into law: July 4, 2025<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/1\/text\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act<\/a> (OBBBA) is a new federal law that affects funding for many programs. While the law covers a wide range of programs, this page focuses on financial aid. These changes are subject to change pending final regulatory text, which is expected in the first half of 2026. We\u2019re waiting for guidance from the Department of Education on how, when, and for whom the new rules will apply.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This page will be updated as we learn more about the OBBBA. Check back regularly for updates and answers to your questions.\u00a0<\/strong>If you have a question not answered below, please feel free to email us at <a href=\"mailto:finaid@sou.edu\">finaid@sou.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='togglecontainer av-mkof35yt-de98d8b9cebdde3c21b81c1d892f4abf  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  toggle_close_all' >\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-mkoebh5d-7479a1321d737f04c25472f1bf2bcbee'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p id='toggle-toggle-id-1' data-fake-id='#toggle-id-1' class='toggler  av-title-above '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-1' data-slide-speed=\"200\" data-title=\"Federal Pell Grants\" data-title-open=\"\" data-aria_collapsed=\"Click to expand: Federal Pell Grants\" data-aria_expanded=\"Click to collapse: Federal Pell Grants\">Federal Pell Grants<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-1' aria-labelledby='toggle-toggle-id-1' role='region' class='toggle_wrap  av-title-above'  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>There are currently no expected changes to Pell Grant amounts for the 2026-2027 school year.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-mkoegy3c-73457d2b7b86972b47a17d16a226fd00'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p id='toggle-toggle-id-2' data-fake-id='#toggle-id-2' class='toggler  av-title-above '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-2' data-slide-speed=\"200\" data-title=\"Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduates\" data-title-open=\"\" data-aria_collapsed=\"Click to expand: Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduates\" data-aria_expanded=\"Click to collapse: Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduates\">Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduates<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-2' aria-labelledby='toggle-toggle-id-2' role='region' class='toggle_wrap  av-title-above'  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, SOU will be required to prorate (reduce) federal direct loans for students enrolled less than full-time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-mkoeluk6-1e9c882e6a4d0dd95664d04c07d9af93'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p id='toggle-toggle-id-3' data-fake-id='#toggle-id-3' class='toggler  av-title-above '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-3' data-slide-speed=\"200\" data-title=\"Federal Direct Loans for Graduate Students\" data-title-open=\"\" data-aria_collapsed=\"Click to expand: Federal Direct Loans for Graduate Students\" data-aria_expanded=\"Click to collapse: Federal Direct Loans for Graduate Students\">Federal Direct Loans for Graduate Students<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-3' aria-labelledby='toggle-toggle-id-3' role='region' class='toggle_wrap  av-title-above'  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Direct Unsubsidized Loan aggregate limit for students in SOU&#8217;s graduate programs will be reduced from $138,500 (including undergraduate loans) to $100,000 (excluding undergraduate loans).\n<ul>\n<li>Students who enrolled in a graduate program and received Federal Direct Loans prior to July 1, 2026 may continue to borrow under the prior limits for up to three additional years or until they complete their program, whichever occurs first.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-mkoew1e1-569c5219c68776941b3a301b0499c902'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p id='toggle-toggle-id-4' data-fake-id='#toggle-id-4' class='toggler  av-title-above '  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-4' data-slide-speed=\"200\" data-title=\"Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans\" data-title-open=\"\" data-aria_collapsed=\"Click to expand: Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans\" data-aria_expanded=\"Click to collapse: Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans\">Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-4' aria-labelledby='toggle-toggle-id-4' role='region' class='toggle_wrap  av-title-above'  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color '  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Graduate PLUS Loan program will be eliminated.\n<ul>\n<li>Students who enrolled in and received Federal Direct Loans for a graduate program prior to July 1, 2026 may continue to borrow through the Grad PLUS Loan program for up to three years, or until they complete their program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Parent PLUS Loans will have an annual limit of $20,000 and an aggregate limit of $65,000 per dependent student.\n<ul>\n<li>Students who enrolled in an undergraduate program prior to July 1, 2026 may continue to receive Parent PLUS loans under current limits if the student or parent previously received Federal Direct Loans for the same program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5810","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Legislative Updates - Financial Aid &amp; Scholarships<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sou.edu\/financial-aid\/legislative-updates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Legislative Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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