Federal and state policy and legislative updates

NIRSA’s Government Affairs Committee stays up-to-date on the latest federal and state policy and legislative news through a variety of scanning tools. One particular resource they use is the bi-weekly Policy Pages provided by Active Policy Solutions. (For more on this partnership, along with other SAHEC associations, have with Active Policy Solutions, see below.)

The policy issues included in the Policy Pages document are highlights of a point in time. They are by no means exhaustive and change continually – so matters discussed in the last issue normally will not carry over to the next unless there is some updated action to be discussed.

The Committee encourages NIRSA members to keep themselves informed on federal and state policy issues affecting their work as professionals on campuses. These issues could be specific to higher education, physical activity, or NIRSA’s strategic value areas. If you have an issue that is of concern to your campus, reach out the Government Affairs Committee.

Policy Page documents will be stored, as a resource for NIRSA members, in the NIRSA Connect Community library. You can find them within the “Member Benefits” folder in a subfolder titled “Federal and State Policy Pages.”

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Budget

• Next relief/stimulus bill update
• Other Congressional activities update, including FY21
• 501(c)(6) organizations would be able to use Payroll Protection Program (PPP) under House passed HEROES Act
• Student loan servicer error impacts credit reports of some CARES Act beneficiaries

Federal Education

• CDACA college students not getting CARES funding subject of lawsuit by Washington state Attorney General, POLITICO reports
• ACLU sues to stop new Title IX rule, POLITICO reports
• College safe return subject of Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing
• Campus sexual violence report released by GAO

Federal Legislation

• Pell Grant support and expansion subject of letter to Congress from 77 groups
• Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and other CARES Act program related legislation
• Borrowers’ defense rule Congressional overturn heading to President’s desk, POLITICO reports
• Public service loan forgiveness reform bill (S 3760) introduced in the Senate

Other Federal

• PPP Final Interim Rules provide further guidance

State & Local Government

• States, companies set up their own COVID-19 legal shields, The Hill reports

Arizona

• Arizona suicide prevention numbers of grade and college student IDs bill passed state legislature and sent to governor

California

• California housing development bill approved by committee

Colorado

• Colorado lawmakers cut $493 million from state higher education budget, but Governor designated $450 million in CARES Act funds for state’s colleges and universities

Illinois

• Illinois credit for completed courses bill passed state legislature and sent to governor
• Illinois suicide prevention and mental health resources on college ID card bill consideration continues to be postponed
• Illinois procurement-higher ed exempt bill expected to come before full state senate soon

Michigan

• Michigan college athlete royalties payment bill passed state house and sent to state senate
• Michigan allowing student athletes to get agents bill passed state house and referred to state senate committee

Minnesota

• Minnesota college athletics ticket bill still under consideration

Missouri

• Missouri sports official harassment and athletic event barring bill referred to committee

North Carolina

• North Carolina athlete scholarship students as North Carolina residents bill hearing scheduled with senate Rules Committee
• North Carolina college athlete compensation and protection bill hearing scheduled
• North Carolina college athlete compensation bill introduced

Tennessee

• Tennessee gender specific school sports bills scheduled for hearings
• Tennessee college athlete compensation upon graduation fund bill committee review postponed
• Tennessee guns on campus bills scheduled for committee hearings
• Tennessee gifts to college athletes from boosters allowing bill committee review postponed
• Tennessee college athlete royalties bill failed to pass committee, effectively killing the bill

Utah

• Utah higher education restructuring bill takes effect

Education News

• College tuition refund lawsuits may not succeed, legal experts say
• Higher education reopening news
• College tuition discounts increase as revenue uncertainty for private colleges looms
• College students look for ways to maintain campus social life and community as college campuses close
• Colleges and universities are increasingly suspending or trimming employee retirement plan contributions to battle budget deficits
• For-profit colleges drastically outspend competing institutions on advertising, Brookings Institute reports

Civil Rights News

• Affirmative action lawsuit appealed by Harvard, POLITICO reports
• Recent college graduates say discrimination on campuses not taken seriously survey shows

Other News

• Youth sports officials numbers verse demand subject of Aspen Institute Project Play article
• Youth baseball community concerned about Ohio governor’s mask requirements
• NCAA approves athletics to resume in three major sports on June 1st
• Several colleges eliminate sports programs due to lack of funding amidst coronavirus
• NCAA loses antitrust lawsuit, POLITICO reports
• NCAA offered name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation guidance article
• Concussions continue to increase among high school athletes, research shows
• Return to play plans
• Coronavirus antibody tests not to be used for decisions on returning to work, CDC says

About NIRSA’s partnership with Active Policy Solutions

As an association, NIRSA strives to monitor and track policy and legislative issues with the potential to impact our members or the campus communities they serve. These issues are wide ranging and may pertain to higher education, employment law, physical fitness, or our strategic values areas.

NIRSA has joined with a subset of SAHEC members (ACUHO-I, ACPA, ASCA, NASPA, and NIRSA) in hiring Active Policy Solutions to assist with monitoring, tracking, analyzing, and determining appropriate action on issues relevant to our associations. Through our partnership with SAHEC, NIRSA continues to monitor policy, legislation, and advocacy work that affects both the higher education and physical activity space. Active Policy Solutions provides government relations and advocacy support to NIRSA and the Association’s SAHEC partners.