Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2485
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4776)
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-10T12:03:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to expand eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program under the Higher Education Act of 1965. It specifically targets adjunct and contingent faculty members by updating the criteria for what counts as qualifying public service employment.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 455(m)(3)(B)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- Defines qualifying teaching employment to include non-tenured track roles as an adjunct, contingent faculty member, teacher, or lecturer at an institution of higher education, postsecondary vocational institution, or Tribal College or University.
- Requires the individual to teach at least 9 credit hours per semester, 6 credit hours per trimester, or 18 credit hours per calendar year (or an equivalent of at least 30 hours per week based on a credit-to-hour conversion formula).
- Adds the condition that the individual must not hold full-time employment with any other employer.
- Removes prior language that had excluded part-time faculty at community colleges from eligibility.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill modifies the existing exclusionary language in the PSLF statute. Previously, certain part-time teaching roles (including at community colleges) were generally not considered qualifying employment. The amendment creates a new pathway for adjunct and contingent faculty who meet minimum teaching load thresholds, treating these positions as eligible public service work when other conditions are satisfied.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The Department of Education would need to update its PSLF application review processes and guidance to verify the new teaching hour requirements.
- On citizens: Eligible adjunct faculty borrowers could receive loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying payments and employment, potentially reducing their student debt burden.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Adjunct and contingent faculty members at colleges, universities, vocational institutions, and Tribal Colleges.
- Federal student loan borrowers working in these roles.
- Institutions of higher education that employ such faculty.
- The U.S. Department of Education, which administers the PSLF program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill makes a targeted statutory change to an existing federal loan forgiveness program without altering broader constitutional authority or creating new regulatory frameworks. It focuses solely on domestic education policy and does not introduce international or constitutional issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4776)
- 2025-07-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-28 — PDF (3 pages)