Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025

## Summary The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections against harassment at colleges and universities by requiring institutions to adopt comprehensive anti-harassment policies, disclose harassment data, and establish programs to prevent and address incidents. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand existing campus security reporting requirements to include harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and sex stereotypes), disability, or religion. It also creates a competitive grant program to fund anti-harassment initiatives, such as prevention efforts, counseling services, and training for students and staff. The bill emphasizes transparency, accountability, and collaboration with community resources, while ensuring it does not override existing federal civil rights protections like Title IX or the Americans with Disabilities Act. ## Key Points - Expanded Policy Requirements: Colleges must develop and disclose policies prohibiting harassment on campus and in off-campus settings tied to the institution (e.g., dorms, sponsored events) or via institutional technology (e.g., email, school-owned networks). - Electronic Harassment Coverage: Explicitly bans harassment through electronic communication, including emails, social media, and messaging services, even if conducted off-campus. - Grant Program for Anti-Harassment Initiatives: Authorizes $50 million annually (2026–2031) for grants to colleges, nonprofits, or state consortia to fund prevention programs, counseling services, and staff/student training. - Transparency and Reporting: Institutions must report patterns of harassment and actions taken to address them. Grant recipients must evaluate their programs and submit findings to the Department of Education, which will compile annual reports for Congress and publish best practices. - Non-Interference with Existing Rights: Clarifies that the bill does not weaken or replace protections under civil rights laws like Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, or the ADA, ensuring harassment policies align with these frameworks. ## Impact Areas - Primary: Students, faculty, and staff at U.S. institutions of higher education, who will benefit from clearer policies, support services, and accountability for harassment. - Secondary: Colleges and universities, which must comply with new disclosure and policy requirements, and may apply for grants to enhance their anti-harassment efforts. - Additional: Technology providers and mobile service companies, as the bill defines and regulates harassment via electronic platforms, and community organizations partnering with schools for counseling or prevention programs.