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 Health & Education

• College pregnancy discrimination case against Troy University (Alabama) resolution announced by OCR
• Colleges and K-12 schools were among the topmost common mass shooting sites according to a five-year study from the US Secret Service
• Biden Administration plans to end COVID-19 public health emergency in May reports The Hill
• Pregnant and nursing workers to get more accommodations from two new federal laws

Federal Legislation

• Student loan collection practices in bankruptcy stopping bill (HR 306) introduced
• Education funds attached to students bill (HR 463) introduced
• Firearm prohibition for individuals under 21 bill (S 14) introduced
• Colleges that provide or aid abortion services prohibited federal funding bill, “Protecting Life on College Campus Act” (S 16), introduced
• College student class-based loan forgiveness dependent on Congress approval bill, “Debt Cancellation Accountability Act” (S 72), introduced

State and Local Government

Arizona

• Arizona college free speech zones limiting bill passes committee

California

• California university system launches abortion services

Colorado

• Colorado college provision of suicide prevention information on student ID bill introduced

Florida

• Florida Gov. DeSantis plans to stop diversity initiatives at state colleges and universities reports ABC News
• Florida immunization tracking prohibition bill introduced

Indiana

• Indiana college tuition cap establishment bill introduced
• Indiana COVID-19 immunization exemption requirements bill introduced
• Indiana college hunger-free campus grant program establishment bill introduced
• Indiana anti-discrimination education code applicability to sexual orientation and gender identity bill introduced

Kentucky

• Kentucky college free speech protections bill introduced

Maryland

• Maryland college transcript provision to in-debt students protocol bill introduced

Mississippi

• Mississippi college student expression protection bill, “Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act,” introduced
• Mississippi college technology access for students program establishment bill introduced
• Mississippi sex assigned at birth definition bill, “Title IX Preservation Act,” introduced

Missouri

• Missouri pregnant employee protections bill introduced

New Jersey

• New Jersey out-of-state healthcare practitioners practicing in the state allowing bill passes committee with amendments

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma universities’ spending records for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs requested by State Secretary of Education according to local news source

Utah

• Utah vaccine passport prohibition bill passes committee

Virginia

• Virginia college housing at no cost for students enrolled in foster care bill passes the state house and introduced in the state senate

Washington

• Washington hazing penalty increasing bill passes committee

Funding

• US Department of Education funding to improve higher education outcomes available

Education

• Colleges student mental health and well-being survey results published
• College students’ social anxiety and trauma are growing mental-health concerns reports The Chronicle of Higher Education

Health and Wellness

• COVID-19 pandemic is associated with worsening adolescent mental health and accelerated brain aging according to National Institute of Mental Health 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.