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 Appropriations
- House Appropriations Committee releases report on proposed spending for the Depts. of Labor, HHS, Education, and related agencies
Federal Education
- Federal student loan system proposed changes unveiled by the Biden Administration
- Transgender college student athletes protection status in Title IX proposal unclear according to Inside Higher Ed
Federal Legislation
- College student unexpected emergency grant establishing bill (HR 8247) introduced
Other Federal News
- Transgender athletes’ participation in sports comments by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) subject of opinion piece in DeSoto County News
State and Local Government
California
- California college student tuition assistance and grant programs bill signed into law
- California college sorority and fraternity recognition policy setting bill, “Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act,” passes the state assembly and awaiting action in the state senate
- California college sexual assault services expansion bill passes the state assembly and awaiting action in the state senate
- California college sexual climate misconduct survey requiring bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California college housing survey request bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California college student health insurance as individual health insurance coverage bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California college sexual assault information and policies standardization bill passes the state legislature.
- California college opioid overdose education and opioid overdose reversal medication bill passes the state senate and passes committee in the state assembly
- California private colleges trespassing policing bill passes the state legislature
Delaware
- Delaware college student consumer protection and college licensure bill passes the state legislature
- Delaware college criminal record inquiry of applicant prohibiting bill amended passes the state legislature
- Delaware professional counselor licensure multi-state compact bill passes the state legislature
Louisiana
- Louisiana hunger-free campus grant program establishment bill signed into law
- Louisiana athletic training statute modification bill signed into law
Michigan
- Michigan community college tuition payment program clarifying that it includes all fees bill introduced
- Michigan community college free program eligibility requirements setting bill introduced
- Michigan college student loan information dissemination requirement bill introduced
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire college student with disabilities voter registration assistance bill signed into law
- New Hampshire interstate mental health provider compact bill signed into law
New Jersey
- New Jersey college COVID-19 vaccine requirement bill introduced
New York
- New York college students with disability materials requirements for publishers law extension bill signed into law
North Carolina
- North Carolina mental health counselors working across state lines allowing bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania school and college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill passes the state legislature
Education
- Public colleges’ operating revenue up by 3.1% in 2021 despite lower net tuition according to Higher Ed Dive
- Temple University’s Hope Center lays off employees according to Inside Higher Ed
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.
Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.
