Congress expands tax-free college savings for aviation training
H.R. 1818 — Aviation Workforce Development Act · Filed by Mike Collins (R-GA) · 27 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 3, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill allows families to use 529 college savings plans to pay for aviation maintenance technician and commercial pilot training courses at FAA-regulated schools. Currently, 529 plans are limited to traditional higher education expenses; this expands them to cover aviation workforce training, letting account holders withdraw funds tax-free for these specific courses.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a straightforward tax-code amendment that expands an existing savings vehicle (529 plans) to cover a specific workforce-development sector (aviation). It is neither a subsidy nor a carve-out for a private party — it is a policy choice to treat aviation training like higher education for tax purposes.
What the text implies
- Expands the universe of 'qualified higher education expenses' by regulatory reference (14 CFR parts 61, 141, 147), meaning future FAA rule changes could alter what qualifies without legislative amendment.
- May increase demand for FAA-regulated aviation schools, potentially benefiting flight schools and maintenance technician programs that meet the regulatory criteria.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
aviation maintenance technician schools (FAA Part 147); flight schools (FAA Part 61 and Part 141 certified); families with 529 accounts seeking aviation training