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 Budget

  • President Biden proposes $5.8 trillion FY23 budget.

Federal Education

  • College students’ federal loans could be forgiven if President Biden uses US of Ed.’s regulatory authority according to Forbes.
  • Private college owners are liable for student aid losses under new US of Ed. policy reports Higher Ed Dive.

Federal Legislation

  • College study abroad safety bill, the Ravi Thackurdeen Safe Students Study Abroad Act” (HR 7215),
  • HBCU infrastructure funding bill, “Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology, and Education (IGNITE) HBCU Excellence Act” (HR 3294) adds 8 new
  • College mental health services commission bill, the “Higher Education Mental Health Act” (HR 5654), adds a new

Federal Other

  • Community College Trustee censure found not to violate First Amendment rights by Supreme

State and Local Government

California

  • California college housing demand far exceeds supply according to Inside Higher Ed
  • California college sexual climate misconduct survey requiring bill passes
  • California college student health insurance as individual health insurance coverage bill
  • California college sexual assault information and policies standardization bill passes
  • California college enrollment numbers not part of environmental impact calculation for purposes of California Environmental Quality Act bill signed into
  • California college sports funding distribution ratio setting bill, the “College Athlete Race and Gender Equity Act,” has hearing

Delaware

  • Delaware out-of-state telehealth and telemedicine bill introduced

Florida

  • Florida interstate psychologist continuation of services allowing bills fail to pass the state legislature
  • Florida school and college sports participation by biological sex bill to repeal the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” fails to pass the state
  • Florida critical race theory wide reaching prohibition bill fails to pass the state
  • Florida state university presidential applicant public records and public meetings confidentiality bill signed into law

Indiana

  • Indiana school sports participation by gender assigned at birth bill vetoed by
  • Indiana college “free speech” protecting bill signed into law.
  • Indiana school and college mental health and suicide prevention supporting bill fails to pass the state legislature

Kentucky

  • Kentucky college student investigation and punishment policy bill, the “Campus Due Process Protection Act,” passes the state house and now before the state
  • Kentucky college student financial aid for felons bill passes the state senate and passes committee in the state

Minnesota

  • Minnesota college sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill introduced

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire vital record and identification card biological sex recognition bill virtually dead, now requiring 2/3 vote in state house to be reconsidered

New York

  • New York college smoking and vaping regulation bill introduced.
  • New York college tuition liability policy notice for students bill
  • New York college admissions legacy and early admissions prohibiting bills
  • New York college sexual harassment prevention and response policies implementing bill

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island school and college sports participation by gender assigned at birth bill, the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” introduced

Utah

  • Utah school sports participation by birth sex bill has governor’s veto overridden by the legislature, bill now to become law
  • Utah Office of [college and school] Student Health Affairs creating bill fails to pass the state legislature

Virginia

  • Virginia intercollegiate student athletes’ compensation (NIL) bill now before the governor
  • Virginia college hazing prevention bill now before the
  • Virginia hazing crime creating bill continued to 2022 special
  • Virginia college hazing prevention bill now before the
  • Virginia hazing incidents treatment seeking immunity bill carried over to 2022 special

Washington

  • Washington college admissions regulating bill fails to pass the state legislature
  • Washington college hazing defining and prohibiting bill now before the
  • Washington hazing felony crime classifying bill, “Sam’s Law,” fails to pass the state legislature
  • Washington NIL bills fail to pass the state legislature
  • Washington college discrimination prevention bill fails to pass the state

West Virginia

  • West Virginia concealed carry of firearms on college campuses allowing bill fails to pass the state legislature
  • West Virginia school and college ID with suicide prevention numbers printed requiring bill fails to pass the state
  • West Virginia college student mental health due to COVID-19 pandemic bill fails to pass the state
  • West Virginia college Student Basic Needs Campus Initiative bills fail to pass the state
  • West Virginia mental health needs at colleges study bill fails to pass the state legislature

Other Updates

  • Temple University paying landlords to increase security measures for students living on and near campus according to Inside Higher Ed.
  • College student alcohol and other drugs policy loosened at Duke University according to The Chronicle

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.