Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-2555119th CongressWALLET
Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
In Committee
Summary
**This bill would codify protections for students to join, lead, and participate in single-sex social organizations, centering student *freedom of association for single-sex groups*.** It would block colleges that get Higher Education Act funds from coercing students or punishing them for membership based on an organization's one‑sex membership practice.
Show full summary
- Students: It would let any enrolled student form, apply to, join, participate in, or lead a single-sex social organization whether or not the group is officially recognized. It bars coercive waivers and many adverse actions such as expulsion, suspension, denial of housing, or withholding financial assistance when those actions target membership practices.
- Institutions and groups: It would prohibit institutions from taking adverse actions or imposing recruitment limits on single-sex organizations that are not applied to other groups unless a written agreement allows it. It preserves institutions' ability to discipline for misconduct and allows private religious schools to act when a conflict stems from their religious mission, so long as the action is not based on the group's membership rule.
- Scope and definitions: Protections would apply to any institution receiving funds under the Higher Education Act, including participation in Title IV programs. The bill defines "single-sex social organization" and defines "sex" as biological male or female tied to reproductive biology.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Protections for students in single-sex groups
If enacted, students at colleges that get HEA federal money would be able to form, join, or lead single-sex social groups of their sex, even if the school does not officially recognize the group. If chosen by a group, students would be able to join and take leadership subject to the group's own rules. If enacted, schools could not take adverse actions for a group's one-sex membership rule. Examples listed include suspension, expulsion, loss of scholarships or on-campus jobs, denial of housing, or withdrawing official recognition. If enacted, schools also could not force students to give up these protections to enroll, and could not impose special recruitment limits on a recognized single-sex group unless the group and the school sign a written agreement.
Schools' recognition and discipline limits
If enacted, the bill would not force colleges to officially recognize a single-sex group. If enacted, colleges could still discipline students for academic or nonacademic misconduct or for groups whose purpose is to incite imminent lawless action. If enacted, private colleges could act when a group's purpose conflicts with the college's religious mission. In all cases the bill would require that any adverse action not be based solely on the group's one-sex membership rule.
Who counts for single-sex groups
If enacted, the bill would say which groups count as single-sex social organizations. That includes some tax-exempt fraternities and sororities and private off-campus clubs made mostly of students or alumni. If enacted, the bill would also define "sex" as biological male or female tied to reproductive systems for deciding who qualifies to join. These rules would decide which groups and which students get the section's protections.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
SD • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 7/22/2025
Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]
IA • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
UT • R
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
AL • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
OH • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
SC • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]
NC • R
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
WA • R
Sponsored 5/15/2026
Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]
TN • R
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
MS • R
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
KS • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
VA • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/25/2026
Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
AR • R
Sponsored 8/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov