House Bill 24 Summary

• Establishes the Idaho Launch Grant Program administered by the Workforce Development Council to provide education grants of at least $8,500 per eligible student pursuing in-demand careers at qualified institutions.

• Eligible students must be Idaho high school graduates beginning with spring 2024 class, must have completed a career pathway plan using Next Steps Idaho, and must enroll in postsecondary education within one year of graduation unless granted an extension.

• Creates the In-Demand Careers Fund in the state treasury, funded by legislative appropriations, donations, interest earnings, sales tax revenue transfers, and reverted student grants, with funds used to award grants under the program.

• Allows the Workforce Development Council to use excess annual appropriations to provide enhanced grants up to $10,000,000 to eligible students or adult learners pursuing in-demand careers, with prioritization based on field of study and financial need.

• Sunset provisions end new awards under the Postsecondary Credit Scholarship Program on July 1, 2023, and the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship Program on July 1, 2023, with program provisions becoming null and void on December 31, 2027.