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 Education – Civil Rights

• New Title IX Rule blocked in more than half of states just as it takes effect reports Higher Ed Dive
• Colleges criticized for not balancing free speech and discrimination protection by Asst. Education Secretary Catherine Lhamon reports Inside Higher Ed
• DEI integration in military children’s education by US Dept. of Defense subject of letter and press release from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)
• House Republicans issue letter about antisemitism allegations at University of California, San Francisco
• College antisemitic discrimination complaint against Drexel University resolved according to US Dept. of Education
• California community college district ordered to end discriminatory policies against student groups by federal judge reports Inside Higher Ed
• College affirmative action case against University of Texas at Austin dismissed by federal judge reports Inside Higher Ed

Federal Education – Other

• Education policy record of Gov. Tim Walz, VP Kamala Harris’ running mate, subject of article from Inside Higher Ed
• College data usage ‘playbook’ released by the US Dept. of Education
• College gang-involved youth program priorities and definitions updated by the US Dept. of Education

Federal Health

• National Survey on Drug Use and Health report for 2023 released by SAMHSA

Federal Legislation

• College alcohol and substance misuse program updating bill, the “Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act” (HR 9214), reintroduced
• Campus sexual assault combating omnibus bill, “Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA)” (HR 9264/S 4962), reintroduced in the House and Senate
• College antisemitism civil rights complaint and investigation requirements bill, “Restoring Civility on Campus Act” (S 4760), introduced
• Chevron deference codification bill (S 4987) introduced

Other Federal News

• New overtime rule impacts on higher education outlined by law firm

State and Local Government

Alabama

• In Alabama, Auburn University to dissolve DEI office following Gov. Ivey’s ban

Colorado

• Colorado college incentive tax credits establishing bill signed into law

Missouri

• University of Missouri disbands DEI division amid Republican pressure and budget concerns reports the Missouri Independent

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire college students and student organizations First Amendment rights protecting bill signed into law

New York

• New York college student internship participants’ sexual harassment training requiring bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York athletic trainers mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse or maltreatment bill signed into law
• New York college study abroad crime reporting bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York college reproductive health clinic and resource information provision requirement bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York early or legacy college admission prohibition bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York college student transcript withholding prohibition bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York college students with disabilities support and services grant bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York public college menstrual products requirement bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York COVID-19 vaccine mandate prevention bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York public college free gym membership for disabled veterans bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York college mental health training requirements bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York K-12 and college vaping prohibition bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York college emergency contraception education requiring bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York omnibus interstate mental health professional licensing compact bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment
• New York public university emergency contraception education bill fails to pass the state legislature before adjournment

Ohio

• The Ohio State University launches free teletherapy service for 65,000 college students with state grant reports NPR
• Pennsylvania college comparison tool feature expanding bill awaiting state house committee action

Funding

• College student basic needs assistance funding opportunity extended for Texas hurricane-impacted counties
• College transition for gang-involved youth support funding available from the US Dept. of Education

Other Updates

• College budget cuts linked to college student financial aid new form rollout problems and declining enrollment reports Inside Higher Ed
• College students’ evolving perspectives on free speech and campus expression subject of new Knight Foundation-Ipsos study
• College students’ withdrawal from college key reasons subject of research brief from ACE
• New college opinion survey released by New America
• DEI and core American value subject of op-ed published by Robert F Kennedy Human Rights.org
• Suicide contagion following celebrity deaths and potential prevention strategies subject of study done by Columbia University

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.