2025 bills / H.B. 260
H.B. 260 First Credential Program (2025)
- Introduced
- House committee
- House vote
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- Signed into law
What this bill does
The bill creates a First Credential Program that helps students earn industry-recognized credentials, with a master list of approved credentials that is reviewed yearly, and it repeals the existing PRIME program. It also requires a master plan for expanding credentialing programs, credit transfer to colleges and technical colleges, a scholarship for students who finish the program, a grant with outcome incentives, and partnerships among schools, employers, and apprenticeship programs.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the official description. Check the official text below.
Official description
- requires designated pathway development positions to perform certain duties
- repeals the PRIME program
- establishes a first credential program
- requires development of a master plan for scaling credentialing programs
- establishes a master credential list of approved industry-recognized credentials
- ensures credits are transferable to higher education institutions and technical colleges
- provides a scholarship for students who complete the first credential program
- requires annual review and updates based on labor market needs
- provides a grant for implementation and incentives for outcomes
- mandates partnerships between schools, employers, and apprenticeship programs
- promotes stackable credentials that lead to career advancement
- coordinates language with other legislation contingent upon passage
- defines terms
- makes technical changes
Your legislators on this bill
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Take action
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Follow H.B. 260
Members ($5 a month) get:
- An alert the day H.B. 260 is put on a committee agenda, with time and room, so you can be there to speak
- When H.B. 260 is rewritten, exactly which words changed
- Its hearings in your own calendar
- Your own scorecard: pick the side you favor and see how every legislator voted
Or start free: A weekly email when H.B. 260 moves: hearings, votes, rewrites, signed or vetoed.
Every vote
- 13 yes, 0 no, 3 absentHouse Education Committee: vote to change the bill · Jan 28, 2025Who voted how
- 13 yes, 0 no, 3 absentHouse Education Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 28, 2025Who voted how
- 71 yes, 0 no, 4 absentFinal House vote · Feb 6, 2025Who voted how
- 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absentSenate Education Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 14, 2025Who voted how
- 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Education Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 14, 2025Who voted how
- 22 yes, 0 no, 7 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 20, 2025Who voted how
- 20 yes, 5 no, 4 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 5, 2025Who voted how
- 68 yes, 0 no, 7 absentHouse vote to accept the other chamber's changes · Mar 5, 2025Who voted how