New Act Funds $50M Annually for Paid Local Government Internships and $100M for Volunteer Scholarships

The aptly named Service Starts At Home Act is essentially a two-for-one deal aimed at boosting civic engagement and making college a little more affordable for students willing to put in the work. It establishes two major, federally funded programs—one for paid local government internships and another for volunteer service scholarships—both running with authorized funds from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030.

The Local Government Apprenticeship: Get Paid to Serve

Section 2 sets up a competitive grant program with $50 million authorized annually. The goal is to fund organizations that can place local high school and college students into paid internships within their own city halls, county offices, and other local government units. This isn’t just about getting coffee; the grants require that the work be valuable educationally, often by teaming up with colleges to ensure the work counts toward real skills. This is huge for students who need to earn money while gaining experience. For the local government, it’s a direct influx of federal cash to bring in new talent.

What’s especially relevant for busy people is the provision requiring grantees to address real-world barriers. If you’re a student juggling classes, a job, and maybe even childcare, the program must look into providing “reasonable accommodations” like flexible hours or remote work options to make the internship possible. This is a crucial detail that acknowledges the reality of modern student life, though what counts as “reasonable” in a government setting will likely be tested as the program rolls out.

The Volunteer Scholarship: Your Service Pays Off

Section 3 creates a state-administered scholarship program backed by $100 million authorized annually. This is where your community service hours turn directly into tuition money. States will get federal funds based on their public school enrollment and must award scholarships competitively to students who commit to volunteering.

To qualify for a scholarship, you must be in your final year of high school or already in college and have completed at least 100 hours of volunteer service in the previous year. The payoff is directly tied to the hours you put in, ranging from $1,000 for 100 hours up to $3,000 for 250 hours or more. This is a serious incentive for students to get involved, rewarding consistent effort with tangible financial help toward the “cost of attendance” (tuition, books, housing, etc.).

If you’re already receiving the scholarship, you get priority for renewal, provided you maintain good grades and log another 100 hours. The bill also reserves up to 20% of the funding for a federal supplemental scholarship, specifically prioritizing students who didn't receive the state award. This two-tiered system attempts to ensure the money reaches the students who need it most.

What Counts (and What Doesn't)

Section 5 is the fine print, defining what “volunteer service work” actually means for the scholarship program. It must be unpaid service for a government or a non-profit group (like a school, community organization, or faith-based group). However, the bill explicitly excludes certain activities from counting toward your hours. This includes things like political lobbying, proselytizing, giving religious instruction, and court-ordered service. If your passion is political advocacy or religious outreach, those hours won’t help you qualify for this specific scholarship. This is a common feature in federal funding to ensure public dollars support broad community needs rather than specific political or religious agendas.