1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Affordable College Textbook Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The high cost of college textbooks continues to be a barrier for many students in achieving higher education. (2) According to the College Board, during the 2022–2023 academic year, the average student budget for college books and supplies at 4-year public institutions of higher education was $1,240. (3) The Government Accountability Office found that new textbook prices increased 82 percent between 2002 and 2012 and that although Federal efforts to increase price transparency have provided students and families with more and better information, more must be done to address rising costs. (4) The growth of the internet has enabled the creation and sharing of digital content, including open educational resources that can be freely used by students, teachers, and members of the public. (5) According to the Student PIRGs, expanded use of open educational resources has the potential to save students more than a billion dollars annually. (6) Federal investment in expanding the use of open educational resources has lowered college textbook costs and reduced financial barriers to higher education, while making efficient use of taxpayer funds. (7) Educational materials, including open educational resources, must be accessible to the widest possible range of individuals, including those with disabilities. 3. Open textbook grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ). (2) Open educational resource The term open educational resource has the meaning given the term in section 133 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015b ). (3) Open textbook The term open textbook means an open educational resource or set of open educational resources that either is a textbook or can be used in place of a textbook for a