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 Education

• College tuition ‘junk fees’ regulation being considered by Biden Administration subject of article from USA Today
• Federal college policy developments college leaders should watch out for in 2024 according to Higher Ed Dive
• College donations have decreased because of US tax code changes reports Higher Ed Dive
• K-12 school transgender student bathroom policy case from Indiana will not be heard by US Supreme Court reports The Hill

Federal Legislation

• College pregnancy student information and resource provision bill, “Pregnant Students’ Rights Act” (HR 6914), introduced, passes House committee, and scheduled for House vote
• College hate crime record tracking requirement bill, “Combating Hate Across Campus” (HR 6883), text becomes available

State and Local Government

California

• California community colleges would be protected from drop in state revenue under proposed plan from Gov. Gavin Newsom reports EdSource

Florida

• Florida school and college political flag displaying prohibition bills introduced and referred to committees
• Florida college students who are homeless support bills introduced
• Florida mental health training for youth interaction bills introduced
• Florida college emergency responses information shielding bill introduced

Georgia

• Georgia universities’ diversity efforts rebranded due to anti-DEI policies reports The College Fix

Illinois

• Illinois public college mental health and suicide prevention plan requiring bill

Kentucky

• Kentucky automatic external defibrillators (AED) medical oversight no longer needing bill introduced

New Jersey

• New Jersey Interstate Counseling Compact bill signed into law

New York

• New York athletic trainers mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse or maltreatment bill signed into law

Ohio

• Ohio college and school sports participation by sex assigned at birth and gender-affirming care for minors prohibiting bill vetoed and awaits potential override by the state legislature

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma university system capping students’ tuition and fee rates bill introduced
• Oklahoma college students in Reserve Officer Training Corps receiving room and board waiver bill introduced

Virginia

• Virginia college Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program creating bill introduced and referred to committee

Other Updates

• Surge in student counseling highlights mental health concerns as detailed in new report

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.