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 Budget reconciliation legislation advances in the Senate

Federal Education

• US Dept. of Ed. overhaul by Trump Administration status updates subject of article from Chalkbeat
• Univ. of Pennsylvania Title IX violation charge by the Trump Administration resolved by the school agreeing to ban transgender student-athletes
• Univ. of Virginia president resigns over federal pressure relating to DEI reports NBC News
• College research overhead funding capping at 15% has been blocked for four federal agencies reports Higher Ed Dive
• Title VI violations at Harvard University found by the Trump Administration reports Higher Ed Dive

Federal Legislation

• College accreditation political litmus test prohibiting bill, “Accreditation for College Excellence Act” (HR 2516), passes the House Education and Workforce Committee
• Sex and gender survey question option restrictions bill (HR 4138) introduced

Other Federal News

• Pocket rescission funding stoppage ‘trick’ potential use by Trump Administration and related court filing subject of article from Politico
• Universal injunctions limited by US Supreme Court decision, receives coverage from the Council of Nonprofits

Federal Comment Opportunity

• COVID-19 Occupational Exposure regulations revocation open to public comment collection by the US Department of Labor

State and Local Government

Iowa

• Iowa sports or exhibition venues nuisance action filing guidelines establishing bill fails to become law
• Iowa college diversity, equity, and inclusion course requirement prohibiting bill fails to become law
• Iowa college education course requirements with topics, prohibition bill fails to become law
• Iowa college nonimmigrant visa-holding students, faculty, and staff expressing support for terrorist organizations prohibiting bill fails to become law
• Iowa state entity DEI office prohibiting bill signed into law
• Iowa public college support for student mental health requirements and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center establishing bill fails to become law
• Iowa college DEI office prohibiting bill fails to become law
• Iowa community college DEI office prohibiting bill fails to become law

Maine

• Maine’s free college scholarship program will end after the Class of 2025 after the state legislature declines to continue funding it reports local news source

Texas

• Texas colleges required to identify undocumented students in order to comply with out-of-state tuition requirements reports the Texas Tribune

Other News

• College student well-being support efforts subject of Inside Higher Ed article

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.