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 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

Federal Education

  • Title IX sexual harassment anticipated rule change focus of expert opinion analysis in Higher Ed
  • Title IX sexual harassment rule change drafting effort prompts 15 state attorneys general to ask of Education to stop its plans according to Higher Ed Dive

Federal Legislation

  • Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) reinstatement bill (HR 6161) adds two new cosponsors
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities funding bill, the “IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act” (S 1945), adds a new cosponsor
  • Mental health portability grant program bill (S 4058) introduced

State and Local Government

California

  • California college mental health spending annual report requiring bill passed committee.
  • California colleges wellness product dispensing vending machine program bill passed committee, referred to second committee
  • California college housing survey request bill passed committee and referred to second committee
  • California college cybersecurity alliance pilot program bill amended and referred to committee

Delaware

  • Delaware professional counselor licensure multi-state compact bill introduced

Georgia

  • Georgia campus free speech zone prohibition bill, “Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act,” passed state legislature and sent to governor
  • Georgia firearm without permit for concealed carry bills sent to governor

Illinois

  • Illinois college student athlete compensation for NIL bill passed legislature
  • Illinois college student aid for course materials bill passed legislature

Louisiana

  • Louisiana hunger-free campus grant program establishment bill introduced
  • Louisiana athletic training statute modification bill introduced

Maine

  • Maine college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill passes the state legislature

Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts college hunger-free campus initiative establishing bill combined into new bill
  • Massachusetts college hunger-free campus initiative establishing bill created from two separate bills and passes favorably out of committee
  • Massachusetts college hunger-free campus initiative establishing bill created from two separate bills and passes favorably out of committee
  • Massachusetts severe intellectual disabled college students academic requirements loosening bill renumbered and passed favorably out committee

Missouri

  • Missouri school teacher suicide prevention education allowing and college and school ID with crisis hotline numbers requiring bill passed committee

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire interstate mental health provider compact bill passes the state senate and had hearing in state house

Ohio

  • Ohio sports official assault penalties increasing bill passes state house and now before the state senate
  • Ohio college free speech and reform bill passes state legislature

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania school and college sports participation by birth sex bill passes committee

South Carolina

  • South Carolina school and college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” passes state house and now before the state senate

South Dakota

  • South Dakota college divisive concepts prohibition bill signed into law

Vermont

  • Vermont telehealth licensure and registration system establishing bill passes state house and now before the state senate

Virginia

  • Virginia hazing crime creating bill passed state senate with substitute rejected by state house; now goes to conference committee
  • Virginia hazing incidents treatment seeking immunity bill passed state house with substitute rejected by state senate; now goes to conference committee
  • Virginia intercollegiate student athletes’ compensation (NIL) bills signed into law

Washington

  • Washington college hazing defining and prohibiting bill signed into law

Funding

  • College suicide prevention grant funding available
  • Pool safety education funding available

Other Updates

Student Health

  • Student health insurance coverage opportunity for comment
  • College students’ negative concerns about future reach high levels according to The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • College students’ mental health trends 2013-2021 subject of new study
  • College student addiction support programs’ history and effectiveness subject of article in The Chronical of Higher Education
  • The American College Heath (ACHA) says college officials should continue to record and report COVID-19 statistics
  • Updated American College Health (ACHA) immunization guidelines available
  • College student health insurance requirement will begin at Ohio’s Wright State in fall 2022

Civil Rights

  • Transgender athletes becoming a focal point for Republicans running for office according to The Hill
  • Former college student falsely accused of sexual misconduct awarded $5.3 million by jury
  • College student denial of accommodation request (PowerPoint slides of lecture) leads to filing of complaint according to The Minnesota Daily
  • University of Wisconsin delays free speech survey according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • Ohio college loses appeal of settlement for damages for supporting students’ protests against local business according to The Chronicle of Higher Education

Other College

  • Neurodivergent students’ adjustment to college focus of article in US News & World Report
  • Graduate assistants at Fordham University vote to unionize according to Inside Higher Ed
  • Virginia college adopts ‘Tracy Rule’ banning athletes disciplined for sexual assault, violence

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.

Executive Assistant at  | NIRSA Profile

Elishea Borin is currently the Senior Executive Assistant at NIRSA.