The Service Starts At Home Act creates two main programs to encourage young people to get involved in their communities through government work and volunteer service.

The first program provides grants to states and local governments to create paid internship opportunities for high school and college students in local government offices. These grants—up to $50 million per year through 2030—help cover the costs of hiring students for real work in city halls, county offices, and other local agencies. The program requires that internships be paid positions with reasonable accommodations for students who need flexible schedules or have childcare or transportation challenges.

The second program offers scholarships to students who volunteer. High school seniors and college students who complete at least 100 hours of volunteer work in a year can earn scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on how many hours they volunteer. The more hours students volunteer, the larger their scholarship. These scholarships can be used to pay for college costs. States receive funding based on their student population, and the program sets aside up to 20 percent of funds for additional federal scholarships for students who don't receive state awards.

The bill also creates a recognition program to highlight schools and organizations that excel at community service. Overall, the legislation aims to make civic engagement and volunteering more accessible and rewarding for students by providing both paid work experience in government and financial incentives for volunteer service.