This bill creates a federal grant program to help states make community college tuition-free for eligible students. The federal government would cover 100% of tuition costs for a five-year period, with states receiving grants based on factors like unemployment rates, poverty levels, and whether they already have tuition-free programs in place.

To qualify for funding, states must create a coordinated plan involving multiple agencies—including higher education, workforce development, health services, and housing authorities—to identify job market needs and remove barriers to education. States must prioritize helping people without high school diplomas, low-income individuals, first-generation students, and other underrepresented groups. The program also requires states to provide support services like childcare assistance, transportation, food aid, and housing to help students stay enrolled and complete their degrees.

Beyond tuition coverage, the bill funds two additional types of support: colleges receive grants to hire more counselors and navigators who help students access financial aid and other resources, and individual students can receive emergency grants (up to $1,500 per year, or $2,500 if they have dependents) to cover unexpected costs like medical emergencies or job loss that might force them to drop out. States must track outcomes like graduation rates, job placement in high-demand fields, and changes in poverty and unemployment to measure whether the program is working.

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program to facilitate the transition to tuition-free community college in certain States, and for other purposes.