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 student loan debt forgiveness plan proposed by President Biden ruled unconstitutional by US Supreme Court
- College student debt relief new actions released by President Biden
- College admissions affirmative action practices overturned by US Supreme Court
- Persons with disabilities Section 504 proposed Rule expected in August
- College federal financial aid application updated form will be published in December 2023 according to US Dept. of Education
Federal Civil Rights
- College student sexual harassment investigation in Maryland resolved by US Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
Federal Legislation
- Pell Grant eligibility for graduate students bill, “Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act” (HR 4337), introduced
- Title IX compliance office creating bill, “Gender Equity in Education Act” (HR 4342/S 2145), introduced
- NCAA subject to Title IX resolution (H. Con. Res. 54) introduced
Other Federal News
- US Supreme Court rules “artistic” businesses can refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals
- Worker religious accommodations request determination standard clarified by the US Supreme Court
State and Local Government
California
- California community college student housing approval bill passes the state legislature
- California college drug tests equipment in stock requiring bill passes the state assembly and passes committee in the state senate
- California Title IX complainant appeal timeline clarification bill text removed and replaced with an entirely new provision detail with prenatal health
- California mental health professionals on college campuses contracting out bill passes the state senate and passes committee in the state assembly
- California college hiring to include committing of sex harassment question bill passes the state senate and passes committee in the state assembly
Connecticut
- Connecticut college childcare assessment plan deadline extension bill signed into law
- Connecticut community college affordability bill fails to become law
Georgia
- Georgia in-state tuition for undocumented students bill carried over to 2024
Kansas
- Kansas Women’s Bill of Rights law compliance information issued by state’s Attorney General
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts college legacy admissions preference prohibiting bill has hearing with committee of jurisdiction
- Massachusetts public college student record protection bill has hearing with committee of jurisdiction
Michigan
- Michigan Title IX violation reporting hindering punishment bill signed into law
New Jersey
- New Jersey college and school AED access grant program bill introduced
- New Jersey college sports wagering partnership prohibition bill introduced
North Carolina
- North Carolina college DEI program banning bill has governor’s veto overridden by the state legislature and the bill now becomes law
Ohio
- Ohio school and college sports participation by sex assigned at birth and gender-affirming care for minors prohibiting bill passes the state house
Oregon
- Oregon college and school sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, “Save Women’s Sports Act,” fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon school sports participation by sex assigned at birth bill, “Save Women’s Sports Act,” fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon COVID-19 vaccination requirements enforced by state agency prohibiting bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon college education study bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon college graduation increasing study bill fails to pass the state legislature
- Oregon college student food security study bill fails to pass the state legislature
- Oregon college Hunger-Free Campus designation creating bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon public college international student recruitment program bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon reinstatement of terminated or forced retired employees for refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccination bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon sexual activity consent bill fails to pass the state legislature
- Oregon “sexual contact” definition modifying bill fails to pass the state legislature
- Oregon college student eviction and homelessness prevention program funding bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon COVID-19 fines prohibiting bill fails to pass the state legislature before the end of session
- Oregon college due process policy adoption bill fails to pass the state legislature
Texas
- Texas COVID-19 vaccine informed consent requirement bill introduced during special session
- Texas COVID-19 vaccine mandate prevention bills fail to become law
- Texas COVID-19 vaccination status discrimination by insurers and colleges prohibition bill fails to become law
Other Updates
- Duke University offers full tuition grants to students from North and South Carolina whose family income is less than $150,000 as means to increase diversity reports Inside Higher Ed
- Youth/young adult suicide and homicide death rates data released by CDC
- College COVID-19 management updated guidelines published by American College Health Association (ACHA)
- College reproductive health guidelines issued by the American College Health Association (ACHA)
- College student free mental health care announced by University of Tennessee system reports The Daily Texan
- Many college sexual assault survivors report incidents only to peers according to new study
- Title IX counterclaims challenged as “abuse of process” new legal strategy reported on by Inside Higher Ed
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.
Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.
