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 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 News

• Federal judges stop Title IX Rule enforcement in 10 states
• College anti-Semitism resolution agreements with University of Michigan and City University of New York announced by the US Dept. of Education
• Federal overtime Rule application to college employees focus of article from JD Supra

Federal Legislation

• Anti-DEI initiatives in the federal government and federal contracting bill, “Dismantle DEI Act” (HR 8706/S 4516), introduced
• College DEI funding prohibition bill (HR 8708) introduced
• College transcript withholding colleges disqualifying to be federal financial aid recipients (Title IV) bill (HR 8729) introduced
• Distance college career education funding contribution to 90/10 funding Rule modification bill, “Ensuring Distance Education Act” (HR 8761), introduced
• Title IX Department of Education Rule Congressional disapproval joint resolution (HJ Res 165) passes out of committee
• Title IX Rule Congressional disapproval joint resolution (SJ Res 96) introduced
• College foster and unhoused student residential priority and support services bill, “Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act” (HR 8273), passes out of committee
• College civil rights investigation process transparency bill, “Civil Rights Protection Act” (HR 8648), passes out of committee

State and Local Government

California

• University of California labor strike temporarily stopped by judge reports Higher Ed Dive
• California college students’ basic needs resources requiring bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
• California college discrimination-free program requiring bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
• California college sexual violence and harassment training amending to biennially bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine for entrance prevention bill sent to a study order effectively killing the bill
• Massachusetts college sexual misconduct denotation on transcript policy requiring bill ordered for further study by committee
• Massachusetts in-state college tuition eligibility expanding bill ordered for further study by committee
• Massachusetts college construction rules establishing bill ordered for further study by committee
• Massachusetts public college admission, scholarships, and grants prioritize students with adversity requiring bill ordered for further study by committee
• Massachusetts public college tuition cap bill ordered for further study by committee
• Massachusetts public college mental health resources for staff requiring bill ordered for further study by committee

North Carolina

• North Carolina repealed mask exemption and increased criminal penalties establishing bill, “Unmasking Mobs and Criminals Act,” passes the state legislature and sent to governor

Texas

• In Texas, college-bound students assisted with mental health through a summer program

Funding

• Vaccine educational campaign involving community health workers request information

Other Updates

• College neurodivergent students adaptation strategies from clinicians subject of article from Psychology Today
• Increased adolescent cannabis use more likely to lead to psychotic disorders finds new study
• Online college students’ mental health services accessibility gap exists amid rising demand reports Inside Higher Ed
• Suicide attempt-related emergency room visits increased over 10 years in the US according to new data
• College PTSD and stress mental health disorders on the rise among US college population finds new study
• Youth gender identity exploration not linked to depression finds new study

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.