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 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

  • College student loan debt cancellation legal memorandum notice posted on Federal Register
  • College students’ rooms scanning during remote testing ruled unconstitutional by a federal court reports the National Law Review

  Federal Health

  • COVID-19 vaccine updated booster shots recommended by CDC according to The Washington Post
  • COVID-19 rapid tests three negatives recommended by FDA to avoid false negative results
  • Federal COVID-19 at-home free tests program ends according to The Hill
  • Annual influenza protection vaccine recommended for 2022-23 season according to new CDC report

  Federal Legislation

  • Changing Our Learning, Loans, Endowments, and Graduation Expectations (COLLEGE) Act (S 4772) introduced and subject of press attention

  State and Local Government

  California

  • California colleges financial reduction due to private scholarships prohibition bill, “California Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act of 2021,” passes the state legislature and sent to the governor
  • California college sorority and fraternity recognition policy setting bill, “Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act,” passes the state legislature and sent to the governor
  • California community college basic needs coordinator requiring bill passes the state legislature
  • California college sexual assault services expansion bill passes the state legislature
  • California college sexual climate misconduct survey requiring bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor
  • California colleges wellness product dispensing vending machine program bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor
  • California college student food stamps eligibility notification bill signed into law
  • California college opioid overdose education and opioid overdose reversal medication bill signed into law
  • California public college housing projects exempt for certain environmental reviews bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor

  Tennessee

  • Tennessee public colleges called to remove LGBTQ+ Title IX law protection mentions by state legislator reports ABC affiliate

  Other Updates

  • College students’ problems related to campus employees’ wishes to working remotely subject of article from Inside Higher Ed
  • New college campus health care provider system at Oberlin College may restrict contraceptive availability due to religious beliefs according to NPR

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.