1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equitable Student Aid Access Act . 2. Zero expected family contribution (a) Simplified needs test Section 479(b)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss(b)(1) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(i)— (A) in subclause (II), by adding or at the end; (B) in subclause (III), by striking or at the end and inserting and ; and (C) by striking subclause (IV); and (2) in subparagraph (B)(i)— (A) in subclause (II), by adding or at the end; (B) in subclause (III), by striking or at the end and inserting and ; and (C) by striking subclause (IV). (b) Zero expected family contribution Section 479(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087ss(c) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting except as provided in paragraph (3), before in the case of ; (B) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in clause (ii), by adding or at the end; (ii) in clause (iii) by striking or at the end and inserting and ; and (iii) by striking clause (iv); and (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking or at the end; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting except as provided in paragraph (3), before in the case of ; (B) in subparagraph (A)— (i) in clause (ii), by adding or at the end; (ii) in clause (iii) by striking or at the end and inserting and ; and (iii) by striking clause (iv); and (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) (A) in the case of a dependent student, the student or a member of the student’s household received benefits at some time during the previous 24-month period under a means-tested Federal benefit program as defined under subsection (d)