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 Budget

  • Federal debt ceiling update

Federal Education & Health

  • Title IX final Rules publishing by US Dept. of Education now projected for October 2023

Federal Legislation

  • Reproductive health services protections and rights to travel for such services protection bills, “Women’s Health Protection Act” (HR 12/S 701), awaiting committee action
  • COVID-19 vaccination status registry prohibition bill (HR 72) awaiting committee action
  • Abortion-pill dispensing regulation restricting bill, “Protecting Life from Chemical Abortions Act” (HR 384), awaiting committee action
  • Abortion service under federal health care programs coverage bills, “Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance” (HR 561/S 1031), awaiting committee action
  • Reproductive health service restriction prohibitions bill, “Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” (HR 782), awaiting committee action
  • US Department of Education abolishment bill (HR 938) awaiting committee action
  • Pell Grant eligibility period increasing bill, “Pell to Grad Act” (HR 961), introduced
  • College cost transparency increasing bills, “Understanding the True Cost of College Act” (HR 1198/S 528), awaiting committee action
  • College student loan information disclosure and counseling provision bills, “Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act” (HR 1216/S 530), awaiting committee action
  • College crime and security information reporting requiring bills, “Safe Equitable Campus Resources And Education (SECuRE) Act” (HR 2421/S 1070), awaiting committee action
  • College student food assistance bills, “Closing The Meal Gap Act” (HR 3037/S 1336), House companion introduced
  • College mental health services commission creating bills, “Higher Education Mental Health Act” (HR 3451/S 1665), reintroduced
  • Youth up to age 29 sexual health and overall well-being grant establishment bills (HR 3583/S 1697) House version introduced
  • Over-the-counter birth control insurance coverage requiring bill, “Affordability is Access Act” (HR 3589/S1698), House version introduced
  • College NIL standard and transparency bill (HR 3630) introduced
  • National sports and fitness month designation resolution (HRes 359) introduced
  • COVID-19 vaccine mandate prohibiting bill, “No Vaccine Mandates Act” (S 167), introduced
  • Mask mandate nullification bill (S 172) awaiting committee action
  • Physical activity promotion bill, “Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act” (S 397), awaiting committee action
  • Colleges and schools inclusive emergency protocols requiring bill, “Promoting Responsible Emergency Protocols for All Students Act” (S 1072), awaiting committee action
  • College fund reauthorization bill, “Making Affordable and Accessible Act” (S 1092), awaiting committee action
  • Transgender Bill of Rights resolution (SRes 144) awaiting committee action

State and Local Government

  • College responsibilities around abortion medication access on campus subject of new state laws reports Higher Ed Dive
  • State-level anti-DEI initiative movement putting pressure on colleges in Texas, Florida, and North Dakota according to The Hill

California

  • California college requirement to distribute fentanyl strips bill passes the state assembly and now in the state senate

Florida

  • Florida higher education professionals encouraged to fight against politically motivated reforms according to Inside Higher Ed

Maine

  • Maine community college childcare services matching funds bill referred to committees

New Jersey

  • New Jersey college gambling addiction prevention program creation bill referred to committee

New York

  • New York free state college for residents bills in committees

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania college hate-based intimidation policy bill passes committee of referral

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island college withholding of transcript for non-payment prohibiting bill recommended held for further study, likely killing the bill

Texas

  • Texas college DEI efforts prohibiting bill passes the state legislature

Other Updates

  • College enrollment rates may be impacted by access to abortion services reports Higher Ed Dive
  • College enrollment data research reported out by National Student Clearinghouse
  • College residence halls eyed for possible temporary housing for migrants reports Inside Higher Ed
  • Colleges could take more action in improving student mental health according to report from College Future Foundation
  • College students’ sports wagering habits subject of NCAA survey
  • Suicide and substance misuse-related deaths report released by Trust For America’s Health

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.

  • For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships Erin O’Sullivan.
Headshot of Erin O'Sullivan
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at | NIRSA Profile

Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.