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 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 NRISA 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 Education & Health

  • College student loan payments resumption planning by the US Dept. of Ed. article by Higher Ed Dive.
  • Collegiate Title IX case involving off-campus assaults by former football player has federal appeals court side with university.
  • COVID-19 vaccine worker requirement dropped by the Biden Administration.
  • COVID-19 may be considered a disability in employment situations according to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Federal Legislation

  • College alcohol and substance misuse program updating bill, the “Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2022” (HR 6493), introduced.
  • College student nutrition assistance programs disclosure bill, the “Supporting Transparency to Overcome Poverty and Campus Hunger Act (STOP) Campus Hunger Act” (HR 6510), reintroduced.
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) reinstatement bill (HR 6161) adds 4 new cosponsors.

State and Local Government

Arizona

  • Arizona college concealed carry permitting bill introduced.

Colorado

  • Colorado flavored nicotine products sale prohibition bill introduced.

Florida

  • Florida critical race theory wide reaching prohibition bill introduced.

Georgia

  • Georgia mental health omnibus bill introduced.

Mississippi

  • Mississippi college athlete NIL permitting bills, the “Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation Rights Act,” passes committee.

Nebraska

  • Nebraska college and school “critical race theory” prohibition bill introduced.

New York

  • New York college hazing policies and penalties bill introduced.

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma college hunger-free pilot program and designation creating bill, the “Hunger-free Campus Act,” introduced.

South Dakota

  • South Dakota college and school sports participation by gender assigned at birth bill passes the state and senate and passes committee in the state house.

Virginia

  • Virginia college hazing prevention bill passes the state senate.

Washington

  • Washington college discrimination prevention bill introduced and in committee.

Funding

  • College student, campus-based assistance programs deadlines for colleges announced by US Dept. of Ed.

Other Updates

  • College funding from states projected to rise 8.5% in FY22 according to Grapevine survey.
  • College students mental health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic subject of article in The Nation.
  • College athletes lawsuits against college for breach of contract for alleged sexual assault linked suspension without completion of Title IX investigation covered in
  • College students prefer colleges allowing all types of speech to limited speech according to new

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.

Executive Assistant at  | NIRSA Profile

Elishea Borin is currently the Senior Executive Assistant at NIRSA.