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 Budget

• FY26 Presidential topline budget request presented to Congress
• Higher ed-related cuts in President Trump’s FY26 budget subject of article from Higher Ed Dive

Federal Administration

• GAO in midst of nearly 40 funding investigations regarding the Trump Administration reports Politico
• International college student deportation risk increases with new ICE policy reports Inside Higher Ed

Federal Education

• Transgender school student sports participation focus of Trump Administration investigation into Washington State reports local news source
• Foreign funding of two US universities under scrutiny by US Dept. of Education reports The College Fix
• Maine settles Title IX lawsuit with USDA to restore funding for food programs reports Reuters
• ACE and other higher ed organizations issue statement on campus antisemitism prevention and caution on federal overreach

Federal Legislation

• Lawsuit arising from the non-consensual sexual protection barrier removal bill, “Stealthing Act” (HR 3084), reintroduced
• College net price calculator requirement bill, “Net Price Calculator Improvement Act” (S 1557),
• reintroduced
• College DEI and affirmative action accreditation consideration prohibiting bill (S 1569) reintroduced
• LGBTQ+ individuals nondiscrimination bill (HR 15/S 1503) awaiting committee action
• Federal definition of antisemitism bill, “Antisemitism Awareness Act” (HR 1007/S 558), Senate HELP Committee consideration held but vote postponed
• College civil rights complaint filing information sharing on the website requiring bill, “Protecting Students on Campus Act” (S 163), receives Senate HELP Committee consideration

Federal Comment Opportunity

• Discretionary grants streamlined clearance process issued by US Dept. of Education open to public comments

Other Federal News

• National Science Foundation cuts hundreds of research grants amid DOGE review reports USA Today
• Tax-exempt status removal from non-profits being ‘explored’ by the IRS reports the Wall Street Journal

State and Local Government

Arizona

• Arizona college encampments banning bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor

California

• California colleges’ funds for providing affordable housing allocation of funding authorizing bill amended and awaiting further committee action

Colorado

• Colorado legal protections for transgender individuals, the “Kelly Loving Act,” passes the state house, amended and passes the state senate, and now differences are being resolved

Georgia

• Georgia college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, “Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act,” signed into law

Illinois

• Illinois college educational funding conditioning on the elimination of sex-segregated spaces prohibiting bill awaiting committee action
• Illinois COVID-19 vaccination religious exemption bill awaiting committee action
• Illinois college free speech policy bill awaiting committee action
• Illinois college sports participation based on gender assigned at birth bill awaits committee action
• Illinois college disability mascot prohibition bill passes the state house and awaiting committee action
• Illinois college free speech student protections bill awaiting committee action
• Illinois college free speech policy bill awaiting committee action
• Illinois college student free speech disciplinary action prohibiting bill awaiting committee action

Indiana

• Indiana state budget bill with higher education provisions signed into law

Iowa

• Iowa college immunization exemption and exemption requirements information to parents and students requiring bill passes the state legislature

Kansas

• Kansas college accreditation policy updating bill signed into law

Louisiana

• Louisiana college military- and veteran-friendly designation program changing bill awaiting state house floor consideration
• Louisiana athletic trainer licensure requirements modifications bill awaiting committee action

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts college legacy preferences banning bill has hearing scheduled

Minnesota

• Minnesota higher education budget bill in the process of resolving differences between the state house and state senate versions

Nevada

• Nevada college opioid overdoses emergency response plans requiring bill passes the state assembly and awaiting state senate committee action
• Nevada current federal education laws and applicable regulations enforceable in Nevada if repealed by federal government after January 1, 2025 bill awaiting state assembly committee action

Ohio

• Ohio college DEI programming elimination and faculty collective bargaining prohibition new law facing public campaign for repeal

Texas

• Texas college antisemitism definition in disciplinary actions requiring bill passes the state legislature

Other News – Education

• Harvard University DEI office revamped amidst Trump Administration demands reports The Hill

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.