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

  Executive Actions

  • K-12 school and college COVID-19 vaccination mandate prohibition Executive Order issued by the White House
  • President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s aggressive advocacy campaigns are reshaping Washington coverage by The Hill
  • DEI activity in federally funded research under review by the Trump Administration, prompting criticism from scientists reports Times Higher Education

  Federal Education

  • College and K-12 school elimination of DEI programming letter issued by the US Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
  • Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon appears to confirm President Trump’s education policy plans during Senate confirmation hearing reports Inside Higher Ed
  • US Department of Education updates subject of article from Forbes
  • NCAA asked to erase records set by transgender student-athletes by the US Dept. of Ed. reports the AP
  • Transgender student support rollbacks ordered by the US Dept. of Education reports ProPublica
  • College student-athletes no longer viewed as school employees as Biden Administration memorandum is rescinded by the acting General Counsel of the NLRB reports USA Today
  • University of California students sue to block DOGE’s access to US Dept. of Education data reports Higher Ed Dive
  • College student files Title IX complaint against Univ. of Washington after protesters disrupt her speech on women’s rights in sports reports Campus Reform
  • ACE conference rallies higher ed leaders to push back against President Trump’s policies reports Inside Higher Ed

  Federal Legislation

  • AAnti-DEI initiatives in the federal government and federal contracting bill, “Dismantle DEI Act” (HR 925/S382), reintroduced
  • Distance college career education funding contribution to 90/10 funding Rule modification bill, “Ensuring Distance Education Act” (HR 1174), reintroduced
  • College DEI federal funding prohibition bill, “Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act” (HR 1282), reintroduced
  • Postsecondary Student Success Grant Rule disapproval joint resolution (HJ Res 41) introduced
  • Deepfake image removal requirement bill, “TAKE IT DOWN Act” (HR 633/S 146), Senate version passes the Senate
  • College prohibition of foreign donation or contract acceptance bill, “DETERRENT ACT” (HR 1048), is heard, amended, and passes committee

  State and Local Government

  Alaska

  • Alaska school and college sports designation by sex assigned at birth bill introduced

  Arizona

  • Arizona immunization FDA not yet approved exemption bill awaiting committee action
  • Arizona college campus concealed weapon authorization to carry bill awaiting committee action
  • Arizona DEI in hiring by the state prohibiting bill introduced and awaiting action

  California

  • California college overnight vehicle parking for students without housing accommodation requiring bill awaiting committee action

  Connecticut

  • Connecticut college intimate partner violence investigation participation by non-student victim bill awaiting committee action 10
  • Connecticut nonconsensual “deep fake” pornography criminalization bill awaiting committee action 10
  • Connecticut public K-12 and college student-athletes assigned male at birth participation on female-only teams and access to gender-designated locker rooms and facilities prohibiting bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut college sports participation based on sex assigned at birth bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut public college DEI offices and efforts prohibiting bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut college COVID vaccination requirement prohibiting bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut public college tuition freeze bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut college free speech policy adoption requirement bill awaiting committee action
  • Connecticut service animal misrepresentation for ADA accommodations penalizing bill awaiting state senate committee action

  DC

  • District of Columbia college sexual misconduct reporting, training, and information dissemination bill awaiting committee action

  Florida

  • Florida college and school immigration enforcement bill state senate version passes the state legislature11 Florida removing waiver of out-of-state fees for undocumented students bill introduced

  Georgia

  • Georgia prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin bill introduced
  • Georgia athletic trainer scope of practice and licensing requirements bill awaiting committee action
  • Georgia school and college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, “Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act,” introduced
  • Georgia school and college diversity, equity, and inclusion programming prohibition bill awaiting committee action

  Illinois

  • Illinois college student telemedicine expanding bill referred to committee

  Indiana

  • Indiana college sports participation by sex assigned at birth requiring bill passes committee
  • Indiana DEI college and state grant recipient office and training prohibition bill withdrawn from consideration and unlikely to receive further consideration
  • Indiana state schools and colleges DEI statements and office prohibition bill passes the state senate

  Iowa

  • Iowa college course topics restrictions bill passes committee

  Kentucky

  • Kentucky college DEI programming prohibition bill awaiting committee action

  Maryland

  • Maryland college out-of-state tuition exemption for undocumented students bill passes the state house and now in the state senate

  Mississippi

  • Mississippi college DEI programming prohibition bill passes the state house
  • Mississippi college DEI office prohibition and higher education efficiency task force establishment bill passes the state senate

  Missouri

  • Missouri college transferable credit for five-degree programs requiring bill, “The Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act,” state senate version has hearing
  • Missouri hazing offense immunity for those reporting and assisting granting bill passes committee
  • Missouri college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill passes committee

  Montana

  • Montana public building restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters gender assigning based on gender assigned at birth bill passes the state house and awaiting action in the state senate

  New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire college facilities use for shelter of unauthorized residents prohibiting bill passes the state house

  New Jersey

  • New Jersey college gambling addiction prevention program creating bill passes committee
  • New Jersey college requirements for public information on its website bill passes the state senate and state assembly committee and awaiting action of the full state assembly
  • New Jersey college transcript withholding permitting bill state assembly version passes the state assembly with amendments and is now before the state senate, and the state senate version passes committee
  • New Jersey college food waste reduction program requiring bill passes committee
  • New Jersey college food assistance programs info dissemination requiring bill passes committee

  New York

  • New York college employment proportions for energy management, materials management, and sustainability education and engagement employees establishing bill introduced
  • New York college fitness facility membership for disabled veterans establishing bill introduced

  North Carolina

  • North Carolina college vaccination record for attendance disallowance bill awaiting committee action

  North Dakota

  • North Dakota public entity (including colleges) gun injury liability removing bill has hearing and awaiting further committee action

  Ohio

  • Ohio college DEI programming elimination and faculty collective bargaining prohibition bill amended and passes the state senate

  Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma college admission or employment application discrimination prohibiting bill, “Academic Loyalty Oath Ban,” read twice in the state house
  • Oklahoma college policies for pregnant students establishing bill introduced

  Texas

  • Texas college DEI course prohibition as a condition for graduation bill awaiting committee action

  Utah

  • Utah college housing based on sex assigned at birth bill signed into law
  • Utah college religious, political, or ideological student organizations rights establishing bill introduced
  • Utah colleges’ abusive coaching practices prohibiting bill read once in the state house

  Virginia

  • Virginia K college athletics team designated by gender assigned at birth establishing bill fails to pass the state house
  • Virginia college confidential resource advisor requiring bill awaiting committee action
  • Virginia concealed handgun carrying without a permit establishing bill fails to pass the state house
  • Virginia public college campus access to “terrorism” or “terrorism-linked” groups prohibiting bill fails to pass the state house and state senate
  • Virginia college food pantry grant program establishing bill passes the state house and awaiting state senate committee action
  • Virginia college intercollegiate athletics coach mental health first aid training requiring bill passes the state house and now awaiting state senate committee action
  • Virginia college pregnant and parenting student resources publishing bill fails to pass state house
  • Virginia nonresident concealed handgun permit establishing bill fails to pass the state senate
  • Virginia hunger-free campus food pantry grant program establishing bill awaiting committee action
  • Virginia college federal food assistance information provisions bill awaiting committee action
  • Virginia college overdose reversal medication administration training for resident assistants bill awaiting committee action
  • Virginia college campus terrorist organization presence prohibition bill awaiting committee action

  Washington

  • Washington staff and sports officials harassment penalty expanding bill passed out of committee

  Wyoming

  • Wyoming DEI and Critical Race Theory prohibited at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges establishing bill passes the state senate and awaiting state house committee action

  Funding

  • College sexual assault prevention and support grant from the federal Office on Violence Against Women awarded to Louisiana State University Shreveport

  Education – DEI

  • Many college DEI programs across US being dismantled amid federal pressure reports Higher Ed Div

  Other Updates

  • College student mental health care faces barriers due to state borders reports Psychology Today

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.