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 this 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 NRISA 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

The Federal Budget

• House Appropriations Subcommittee approves Labor-HHS-Spending Bill

Education

• Senate HELP Committee plans to release draft HEA legislation by the end of the month, Politico reports
• Congressional Research Service puts out report on: “Affirmative Action and Equal Protection in Higher Education”
• President Trump signs executive order to launch review of Obama-era guidance and regulations

Immigration/DACA/Dreamers

• DREAM Act stalled, Politico reports

Federal Legislation

• PHIT Act update provided by the PHIT Coalition
• Equity Act opinions posted in advance on likely action in the House
• The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act (HR 2632) introduced
• Leveraging Opportunities for Americans Now (LOAN) Act (S. 1292) introduced
• College prevention substance misuse grants bill (S 1281) introduced
• The Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College Access Act College Access Act (HR 2465) introduced
• What You Can Do for Your Country Act (HR 2441) introduced
• Accountability of Leaders in Education to Report Title IX Investigations (ALERT) Act (HR 2421) adds new cosponsor
• College Transparency Act (HR 1766) adds six new cosponsors
• Innovation Zone Act (S. 1221) introduced
• Exercise and Fitness for All Act (S. 1244) reintroduced
• Domenic and Ed’s Law parental loan forgiveness bill (HR 2180) gets a new cosponsor

Other Federal News

• Education Secretary Betsy DeVos invited to discuss Title IX rules changes with Nassar victims by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
• President Trump may allow service academy athletes to go straight to the pros

State & Local Government

Alabama

• Alabama reducing number of required women’s restrooms in high school sports stadium bill passes the state house

California

• California senate bill aims to relieve financial strain of ‘unmet needs’ for community college students
• California college domestic violence centers mandate bill passes the state assembly
• California bill allowing student athletes to get a sports agent without losing their student athlete status passes the state assembly
• California college “Student Athlete Bill of Rights” amending bill gains appropriations committee support

Colorado

• Colorado bill would create scholarship program for ex-youth inmates seeking higher education
• Colorado college sexual misconduct policies, training, and summit bill passes the legislature and has been sent to the governor

Florida

• Florida hazing definition changing bill passes the state legislature and now heads to the governor
• Florida sexual orientation/gender discrimination prohibition bill fails to pass the state legislature
• Florida sports safety course requirement for staff and volunteers of “high-risk youth athletic activities” bill fails to pass the state legislature

Hawaii

• Hawaii report on Title IX enforcement by other states bill passes the state legislature and has been sent to the governor

Indiana

• Indiana becomes 10th state in US, 1st in Midwest to legalize sports betting

Iowa

• Iowa legislature adjourns
• Iowa governor signs bill allowing stun guns on college campuses

Maine

• Maine sports betting legislation faces further study

Michigan

• Michigan lawmakers push for legislation to help hold universities accountable for abuse

Missouri

• Missouri lawmakers say Title IX bills likely dead
• Missouri campus carry legislation runs out of time as session nears a close
• Missouri “free expression” bill passes the state house and is now before the state senate

Montana

• Montana governor signs sports betting bill

Nevada

• Nevada state constitutional amendment seeks to increase legislative oversight of higher education

Texas

• Texas state house passes campus “free speech” bill

Tennessee

• Tennessee governor to allow sports betting without signature

Washington

• Washington state legislature brings back affirmative action

Education News

• Florida college uses mental health status as a determining factor in student admissions process
• Tuition discounts reach record high again as colleges diversify revenue, Education Dive reports
• Article looks at the future of work-study and how colleges’ role in student employment is changing
• UCLA student shares what it is like to be quarantined on a college campus after measles outbreak
• Article explores the experience of some of the 4 million college students that are raising children
• Over 60% of college students face hunger or housing insecurity according to report
• Beacon College becomes a founding member in Global Higher Ed Disability Compact
• US education groups McGraw-Hill and Cengage announce an all-stock merger
• Pay raises for American college faculty members remain low for third year in a row, survey shows
• Higher education leaders convene to discuss restoration of public’s trust in higher education
• CEO World publishes list of top 6 most beautiful college campuses in the country

Health and Wellness News

• Increase in youth suicide rates coincides with Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” run according to a new study

Civil Rights News

• “Fair Play? Women’s Athletics in the Age of Gender Identity” event hosted by The Heritage Foundation and Concerned Women for America summary
• University of Colorado students with intellectual disabilities circulate petition for inclusive graduation

Safety News

• Rubber playground surfaces may contain high lead levels, study suggests

Sports News

• USA Climbing launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
• Women hockey players have hope in National Hockey League (NHL) steps to create new league
• USA Weightlifting hoping to expand collegiate presence

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.