An Assembly committee voted to reduce the credit load students must take to be eligible for Nevada's need-based Silver State Opportunity Grant.

The Assembly Education Committee voted on Tuesday to pass AB155, a bill sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Selena Torres. It allows students who are taking 12 credits to receive the award; the current minimum is 15 credits.

Covering all students who would be eligible for the award under the 12-credit paradigm would cost an estimated $16 million to $29 million every two years, according to calculations from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). The high estimate is nearly triple the $10 million the state currently spends on the program every two years.

Students have pushed in the last two sessions for the cutoff to be 12 units, saying many non-traditional students or those with heavy job and family obligations are excluded from the grant program. But NSHE pushed for the 15-credit limit on the basis that students taking a heavier course load are significantly more likely to graduate on time than those taking 12 units a semester.

This time around, NSHE testified in favor of the bill. Chancellor Thom Reilly said his perspective is that lawmakers can decide where they want to draw the line, and NSHE won't refuse if the Legislature wants to provide more money and expand the program to more students.

Torres said she's still in talks with NSHE about how exactly the program will work for 12-credit students even if there's not enough money to cover all of those who are eligible.

The bill now heads to a vote of the full Assembly.