Committee amends and advances bill to raise Hathaway award amounts

The Joint Education Committee voted Nov. 13 to sponsor amended legislation that raises Hathaway Scholarship award amounts after hearing student testimony and fiscal analysis.

LSO presented the draft increases (honors to $5,360; performance to $4,020; opportunity and provisional opportunity to $2,680) and noted an effective date of July 1, 2026. Matt Hill reviewed historical investment returns and said realized capital gains plus interest and dividends suggested a range of sustainable increases (roughly 28–45 percent depending on assumptions). The committee considered a sponsor amendment to cap the increase closer to 40 percent — a conservative approach to remain within historic realized returns while creating a meaningful boost.

Students and student government representatives urged a significant increase to restore Hathaway’s purchasing power amid rising tuition and living costs; university student leaders said the awards had fallen from covering 80–90% of tuition to roughly 40% at the honors level.

Senator Scott moved an amendment to lower the bill’s percent increase; the committee asked staff to convert the percentage into rounded award numbers for clarity. The amendment was adopted. The committee then took a roll‑call sponsorship vote. The clerk recorded 12 Aye, 1 No, 1 Excused, and the bill advanced for sponsorship.

Implementation notes: Staff will prepare a fiscal note using updated treasurer projections; the Department of Education would be responsible for any needed rulemaking to administer changed amounts. The committee also discussed phasing or staging increases over multiple years to manage fiscal exposure.

Outcome: Amended increase advanced for sponsorship; fiscal staff to prepare detailed cost estimates ahead of the legislative session.