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.”

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Education

• College and school sports participation based on sex assigned at birth Rule of US Dept. of Energy withdrawn
• Higher education vision of Trump Administration outlined by Sec. of Ed. during speech
• College pricing transparency discussed in House subcommittee hearing
• College patent income splitting with the federal government suggested by US Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick
• Title IX obligations and where things now stand article
• College drag shows get free speech protections finds federal appeals court
• College union sues Trump Administration claiming financial coercion

Federal Legislation

• Opioid overdose reversal kit public space access state obtaining bill, “Having Overdose Protection Equipment (HOPE) Act”
• College collaboration research agreement with adversarial foreign funding prohibiting bill, “Protecting American Research and Talent Act” (HR 5253/S 2755), introduced
• College continuity of mental health care across state lines bill, “College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act” (HR 5357), introduced

Federal Health

• SAMHSA asking people to share success stories for Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month in October

Other Federal News

• Overtime Rule by US Dept. of Labor being considered but no timeline

State and Local Government

California

• California college and school notification of immigration actions on property/campus bill sent to the governor
• California omnibus background check bill signed into law
• California colleges’ childcare resources information dissemination to students with dependent children requiring bill has state senate concur with state assembly amendments

Illinois

• Illinois college undocumented student higher education assistance restriction bill introduced

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts college FERPA record reproduction non-requirement bill passes committee

Michigan

• Michigan college and high school journalism and protest free speech protections bill introduced
• Michigan personal information disclosure for federal immigration enforcement without a warrant prohibition bill introduced

New York

• New York State University of New York (SUNY) direct cost reimbursement and state agency administrative savings bill introduced

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma college plaza designation or construction as “Charlie Kirk Memorial” requirement bill prefiled

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin college firearm carrying prohibiting bill introduced

Funding

• Trump Administration sending funding directly to HBCUs and TCCUs

Other News

• College impacts from the assassination of Charlie Kirk
• Texas college removes dean and department head following professor/student conflict involving course mentioning gender identity
• Colleges v. Administration battles affect students’ campus life reports The Hill
• College presidents “extremely concerned” about direction of federal policy finds ACE
• College diversity mission statement cut by Kansas State to comply with state law
• College DEI elimination efforts by North Carolina universities report released
• College students who are parents’ barriers to success subject of study
• College education importance poll shows a decline in perceived value
• College “performative male” contests popping up on college campuses
• College student mental health increased depression and impact on academic performance study published by Healthy Minds
• LGBTQ+ college students’ mental health decline correlated with their state’s political climate finds new study

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.