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119-hr-2057119th CongressWALLET

Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Introduced

Summary

Protecting student speech and association rights. This bill would add a Students Bill of Rights to the Higher Education Act that sets rules for how public colleges receiving Title IV funds treat student groups, event fees, and invited speakers.

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  • Students and student organizations: Recognized student groups could not be denied recognition just because they lack a faculty advisor or are affiliated with a national chapter. Schools must provide a fresh appeals process for denied recognition and for funding decisions.
  • Events and invited speakers: Colleges would have to use clear, objective, content- and viewpoint-neutral rules when setting security fees and speaker safety standards. Fee amounts cannot be based on the event's content, the guest's viewpoint, or anticipated public reaction.
  • Institutional enforcement and federal oversight: Individuals could sue in federal court for violations and seek injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, with a 2-year statute of limitations. If a court finds a violation and a school does not fix it, the Education Secretary can revoke Title IV eligibility until the institution certifies compliance and the Secretary reviews the report within 90 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Student aid tied to school compliance

This bill would tie a public college’s access to federal student aid programs to compliance with these campus rights. After a non-default, final court judgment finding a violation, the school would have 7 days to notify the Education Department and 30 days to certify it fixed the problem. If the school does not notify or submit the 30‑day report, the Department would have to revoke eligibility for federal funds, including Title IV aid, for each award year after the year of the judgment. A school could seek restoration by submitting the report; the Department would review within 90 days and, if satisfied, restore eligibility for future award years. If a school lost eligibility, students there could lose access to federal grants and loans.

Public college rules for student groups and fees

If enacted, public colleges that get federal aid would have new rules for student groups and events. Schools could not deny recognition just because a group lacks a faculty advisor or is tied to a national group. If an advisor is required, the school would have to waive the rule or assign one. If the school collects a mandatory activity fee, it would have to publish neutral, clear standards for total funds and how each group gets money, give written reasons for any denial, and offer an appeal to an independent campus body. Decision-makers who ignore the published standards would have to be disqualified. Schools would also have to publish neutral standards for any security fee and for protecting invited speakers and guests. Fees could not be based on speech or expected reactions. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

Right to sue public colleges

This bill would let you sue a covered public college in federal court if its policies break these rules and harm you. You could seek a court order to stop the policy and, if you win, get damages, court costs, and attorney fees. You would have 2 years from when the harm occurs to file. These rights would take effect upon enactment.

Who these campus rules cover

The bill would define who and what these rules cover. A covered public institution would mean a public college that gets Higher Education Act funds. It would define recognized student organization, content- and viewpoint-neutral, security fee, and non‑default, final judgment. These definitions would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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