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 Budget/Appropriations

Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill has hearing

Federal Education

Gender disparities subject of letter to the NCAA by three Members of Congress
Title IX determinations by the Biden Administration criticized by 21 Republican state attorneys general
The US Department of Education received a signed letter from 10 Senators requesting the accountability of for-profit colleges for the upcoming accountability rulemaking meeting
US Department of Education’s nominee for head of the Office for Civil Rights has confirmation hearing before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee
US Education Secretary testifies on Department policies and priorities during House committee hearing
Federal lawsuit seeks to compensate college athletes as employees
US Department of Education releases proposed priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs

Immigration/DACA/Dreamers

DACA recipients should be allowed to stay in the US according Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

State and Local Government News

Arizona

Arizona school and high school sports participation by birth gender bill, the “Equitable Treatment of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” introduced

California

California college athlete endorsement name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation bill passes the state senate and passes a state assembly committee

Colorado

Colorado higher education student success bill signed into law

Connecticut

Connecticut omnibus college policies bill signed into law

Florida

Florida college COVID-19 related lawsuits shielding bill signed into law

Louisiana

Louisiana college employee sexual assault reporting requiring bill signed into law
Louisiana college athlete NIL compensation bill signed into law

Maine

Maine college and school sports participation sex at birth bill in special session and after failing to pass the state house, the state senate is scheduled to bring up the bill

Massachusetts

Massachusetts student athlete’s right to compensation for use of name, image, or likeness (NIL) bill hearing scheduled
Massachusetts college admissions standardized test scores use ending bill introduced
Massachusetts severe intellectual disabled college students academic requirements loosening bills introduced

Michigan

Michigan college name, image, or likeness (NIL) bill introduced and referred to committee

Missouri

Missouri school and college sports participation by birth sex bill fails to pass

New Jersey

New Jersey constitutional amendment on college sports betting bill substituted by identical bill (NJ SCR 133) and passes the state legislature
New Jersey college name, image, or likeness (NIL) bill introduced and referred to committee
New Jersey hazing policy bill passes the state legislature

New York

New York NIL related collective bargaining rights for college athletes and authorizing the public employment relations board to exercise jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters bill introduced

Ohio

Ohio education for children of military parents bill with amendment to prohibit schools and colleges from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations sent to the governor
Ohio anti-hazing “Collin’s Law” bill signed into law
Ohio college athlete compensation “NIL” bill with school sports participation by birth gender bill passes the state legislature

Oregon

Oregon college benefits navigators position requiring bill sent to governor

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania college athlete NIL compensation bill introduced

South Carolina

South Carolina student athlete stipend bill introduced

Wisconsin

Wisconsin college sports participation by biological sex bill passes the state assembly and now in senate committee
Wisconsin school sports participation by birth sex bill passes the state assembly and now in senate committee

Other News

College COVID-19 vaccination requirements graphics provided by NBC News
Colleges experiencing higher dropout rates according to new study
College work force is growing again after being hit by COVID-19 according to the Chronicle of Higher Education
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) state and federal bills tracker database being updated by SFIA
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) college policies tracker released by Business College Sports
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) monetization methods discussed in Business College Sports article
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation supported by Black coaches and ex-athletes according to NBC News
Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) will allow female athletes and women’s sports to benefit according to new study
NIL rules add additional pressure, costs to small colleges
COVID-19 cases connected to soccer tournament according to European health agency
Gymnastics facility associated with Delta variant COVID-19 outbreak according to CDC
Equal pay for US women’s soccer team continues to be sought by team as they head to the Tokyo Olympics
International Olympic Committee (IOC) sets goal of equal ratio of male to female athletes at Paris 2024 Olympics
Gender equity addressed by the women-led United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) according to Forbes
UCLA sued by former spirit squad director based on Title IX allegations
Sex victims of UCLA doctor got approved for a $73 million settlement by federal judge
Free speech group attempts to delay Virginia Tech’s anti-bias policies
College free speech AAUP and FIRE approaches contrasted in article

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.