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 Appropriations
- FY2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill approved by Appropriations Subcommittee
Federal Education
- Title IX proposed rule changes announced, public comment sought by US Dept. of Education
- Title IX protections for pregnant students in post-Roe America subject of article from Inside Higher Ed
- Title IX rule change opposed by 18 state attorneys general over change to definition of ‘sex’ according to The Washington Times
- Gainful employment revised rule proposal delayed by US Dept. of Education until 2023 according to Higher Ed Dive
- College student loan debt of $6 billion for students claiming fraud by their colleges to be cancelled by the US Department of Education according to Forbes
- College affordability discussed by House Education and Labor Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) during interview with POLITICO
Federal Health
- Federal abortion rights overturned by the US Supreme Court
- Administration officials push for free contraception under insurance plans, according to The Hill
- New suicide prevention and crisis helpline website launched by SAMHSA 8
- Sale of Juul e-cigarettes banned by FDA according to The Hill
Federal Comment Opportunities
- COVID-19 vaccination waiver comment period open
Federal Legislation
- Bipartisan gun safety bill signed into law by President Biden
- LGBTQ+ civil rights Executive Order rescinding bill (HR 8212) introduced
- K-12 and college mental health funding bill, “UNITED Act” (HR 8180), introduced
- College loan forgiveness and increased affordability bill (S 4459) introduced
- Sexual violence advocacy pilot program establishing bill (S 4462) introduced
- Abortion medication preservation bill (S 4467) introduced
- College student class-based loan forgiveness dependent on Congress approval bill (S 4483) introduced…10 LGBTQI+ data collection improvement bill
- Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act (HR 5407) adds a new cosponsor and passes the House
- College alcohol and substance misuse program updating bill, “Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2022” (HR 6493), passes the House
- Mental health and substance use disorder support bill (HR 7666) passes the House and referred to committee in the Senate
- Higher education joint loan options for married couples bill, “Joint Consolidation Act” (S 1098), passes the Senate
Other Federal News
- Gun permit ruling by US Supreme Court expands Second Amendment rights according to The Hill
State and Local Government
California
- California college housing survey request bill passes the state assembly and hearing scheduled in the state senate
- California college sexual assault information and policies standardization bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California colleges wellness product dispensing vending machine program bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California public college housing projects exempt for certain environmental reviews bill amended; passes the state senate and passes committee in the state assembly
Illinois
- Illinois higher education equity plans and practices requiring bill signed into law
Louisiana
- Louisiana college funding bill for students with intellectual disabilities passes the state legislature and now goes to the governor for consideration
Missouri
- Missouri college cost assistance for health care students program expanding bill fails
New Jersey
- New Jersey college mental health services bill passes committee in the state assembly and introduced in the state senate
- New Jersey colleges to keep and distribute Narcan nasal spray bill introduced
- New Jersey public colleges test-optional admissions policy requiring bill introduced
Ohio
- Ohio school and college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, the Save Women’s Sports Act, passes the state house and now before the state senate
Education
- University of Arizona and other colleges will pay tuition for Native American students, according to Forbes Student housing at Eastern Michigan University transformed by new 35-year deal according to Detroit Free Press
- Colleges’ management of student mental health crisis subject of article in The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Non-tenured faculty members form union at Santa Clara University according to Silicon Valley Business Journal
- American Association of University Professors named new affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers according to POLITICO report
Health & Wellness
- College students receive mental health support away from campus via teletherapy according to Higher Ed Dive
- College students’ mental health treatment options on and off campus focus of article in The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Monkeypox case discovered on George Washington University campus according to The Hill
Civil Rights
- Gender equity in sports scholarships supported by two-thirds of Americans according to Washington Post-UMD poll
- Female transgender skateboarder’s victory over cisgender competitor subject of article from ABC News
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.
Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.
