The FAFSA Simplification Act changed a lot; its key goal was to make the FAFSA quicker and easier to submit. The new law, which passed in December 2020, will ultimately cut the FAFSA form down to 36 questions, expand eligibility for need-based grants and reduce the burden for supplying tax documentation from the IRS.
However, the FAFSA form released on Oct. 1, 2021, does not reflect most of the changes outlined in the new law because, as the Department of Education said, there was not enough time to implement many of the new rules. Expect more updates for the 2023-2024 school year.