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

  • College student loan payments moratorium extended to August.
  • Title IX sexual harassment rule change public comment period notification pending from the US of Education.
  • Title IX rule change from US of Ed. subject of coalition’s request to stop agency’s efforts according to POLITICO.
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities Board of Advisors appointments announced by President Biden.

Federal Legislation

  • College student loan payment suspension prohibition bill, the “Federal Student Loan Integrity Act” (HR 7058), introduced.
  • Student athlete substance abuse prevention bill, the “Student and Student Athlete Opioid Misuse Prevention Act” (HR 7246), introduced.
  • Suicide prevention “Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act programs” reauthorization bill (HR 7255) introduced.
  • Student loan income-based repayment plan amendment bills, the “Affordable Loans for Any Student Act of 2022” (HR 7288 & S 3953), introduced.
  • College mental health study and disability guidance issuing bill (HR 7370) introduced.
  • College textbooks affordability bill, the “Affordable College Textbook Act” (S 3818), introduced.
  • Title IX funding restriction for college sport participation by sex assigned at birth bill, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” (HR 426), adds 3 new cosponsors.
  • Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act (HR 5407) adds a new cosponsor.
  • College mental health services commission bill, the “Higher Education Mental Health Act” (HR 5654), adds a new cosponsor
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) reinstatement bill (HR 6161) adds a new cosponsor.
  • College student SNAP eligibility bill, the “College Student Hunger Act” (HR 6272), adds a new cosponsor.

Federal Other

  • Transgender youths’ federal rights reiterated in letter to state attorneys general from US of Justice.
  • US Small Business Administration increases small business size definitions.
  • Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grantees’ performance period automatically extended.
  • Endowment and academic HBCU funding available for comment.

State and Local Government

Colorado

  • Colorado college competitiveness bill introduced.

Idaho

  • Idaho COVID-19 vaccine anti-discrimination bill will not become law as legislature fails to override the veto.

Indiana

  • Indiana school sports participation by gender assigned at birth bill vetoed by governor.

Kentucky

  • Kentucky college student investigation and punishment policy bill, the “Campus Due Process Protection Act,” passes the state legislature and sent to the governor.

Maine

  • Maine campus sexual misconduct commission, campus survey, and survivor care bill introduced, passes committee.
  • Maine college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill passes the state legislature.

Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts college student information non-disclosure bill passes committee.

New Jersey

  • New Jersey college mental health services bill introduced.
  • New Jersey college menstrual products availability bill introduced.
  • New Jersey college loan interest accrual suspension bill introduced.

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma college professors and concurrently enrolled high school students’ relationships prohibiting bill passes the state house, introduced in the state senate.
  • Oklahoma college and school transgender sports bill, the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” signed into law.

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania school and college sports participation by birth sex bill introduced.

Tennessee

  • Tennessee college sports participation by gender assigned at birth bill, “Fairness in Women’s College Sports,”
  • Tennessee college divisive concepts prohibition bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor for consideration

Wisconsin

  • Wisconsin sports officials harassing or assaulting increased penalties bill dies having failed to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • Wisconsin college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bills die having failed to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • Wisconsin college tuition increase controlling bill fails to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • Wisconsin college “free speech” protecting and sanction creating bill fails to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • Wisconsin college mandatory masking, COVID-19 testing, and vaccination policy prohibiting bill fails to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • Wisconsin state education employees collective bargaining bill fails to meet the legislative threshold for passage.

Other Updates

  • Wisconsin state education employees collective bargaining bill fails to meet the legislative threshold for passage.
  • College undergraduate student workers vote to unionize according to The Boston Globe.

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.