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.”

Full SAHEC Policy Pages

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Education & Health

Campus sexual violence survey guidance from the US Department of Education requested by House Democrats reports Higher Ed Dive
President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine employee mandate block extended by Appeals Court

Federal Legislation

Pell Grant eligibility period reduction bill, the “Pell Grant Modernization Act” (HR 5926), introduced
College free speech on campus resolution (HRes 770) introduced
College student food assistance eligibility notice requiring for those receiving work study assistance bill (HR 3362) adds a new cosponsor

State and Local Government

District of Columbia

Washington, DC NIL college athlete bill introduced and referred to the committee

Florida

Florida legislature is considering several COVID-19 vaccine policies related bills during special session

Illinois

Illinois school employees COVID-19 pay requiring bill passes both chambers

Iowa

Iowa COVID-19 vaccine exemption allowing bill signed into law during special session

Massachusetts

Massachusetts college student health insurance mental health parity coverage bill passes committee

Michigan

Michigan sexual misconduct reporting hindering a criminal offense bill passes the state house and sent to the state senate
Michigan sexual assault or abuse reporting prevention crime bill passes the state house, introduced in the state senate
Michigan sexual abuse or assault victim anonymity bill passes the state house, introduced in the state senate

Nebraska

Nebraska transgender employee protections approved by Nebraska State College System

North Dakota

North Dakota vaccine discrimination bill dies in the state house

Ohio

Ohio sports official protection bill passes the state house, introduced in the state senate

Oklahoma

Oklahoma vaccination discrimination bill introduced in the state house

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania college sexual violence education program requiring bills awaiting committee action
Pennsylvania college responsibilities toward crime victims bill under consideration
Pennsylvania campus sexual assault and relationship violence study bills under consideration

Tennessee

Tennessee COVID-19 related omnibus bills signed into law

Utah

Utah workplace COVID-19 amendments bill signed into law

Wisconsin

Wisconsin state education employees collective bargaining bill introduced

Wyoming

Wyoming COVID-19 public health emergency bills die in committee/fail to pass before the end of the special legislative session

Education

International college student enrollment decreased last year but should rebound according to Higher Ed Dive
College counselors are short staffed and burned out according to The Chronicle of Higher Education
College student protesters reach a deal with Howard University over housing issues according to The Washington Post
Colleges managing political tensions report released by The Chronicle of Higher Education and now available to purchase

Civil Rights

Transgender athletes’ potential competitive advantage explored in article
College sports NIL and Title IX equal athletic opportunity could cause issues as discussed in opinion piece by Sportico
College free speech subject of Iowa survey distributed to employees and students according to Higher Ed Dive

Activities

NCAA’s new constitution explained in The Washington Post article
College football pay-to-play with classes optional predicted by athletic director according to The Athletic

Health & Wellness

School students required to wear COVID-19 masks outside might be counterproductive according to scientists, reports The 74
College COVID-19 mitigation efforts shown effective according to a new study

Full SAHEC Policy Pages

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.