Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025
The Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create a new, federally enforceable set of protections for speech and association by students and student organizations at public colleges and universities that receive federal funds. The core idea is to ensure that publicly funded institutions treat student groups fairly and neutrally when recognizing clubs, funding them, charging event security fees, and hosting invited speakers. The bill provides a private right of action in federal court for violations, with consequences for institutions that lose compliance (including potential loss and restoration of federal funding). It also requires ongoing reporting to Congress and clarifies that these protections do not change existing civil rights protections under Title VII or Title IX. In short, public higher-education institutions would have to follow explicit, neutral standards around recognizing student groups, funding allocations, security fees, and safety for invited speakers, with a federal mechanism to enforce those standards and to revoke or restore funding eligibility if needed.
Key Points
- 1Recognized student organizations: public institutions cannot deny recognition solely because a group lacks a faculty advisor; if an advisor is required, alternatives or waivers must be allowed, and groups cannot be denied solely for affiliation with a national organization; institutions must provide an appeals process for denied recognitions.
- 2Funding for student organizations: if a mandatory student activity fee funds recognized groups, institutions must use clear, objective, content- and viewpoint-neutral standards for total funds and for allocations; institutions must give written reasons and provide an appeals process when an allocation is denied; disqualify decision-makers who fail to apply the standards.
- 3Security fee assessments: institutions must use clear, objective, neutral standards to set security fees for student events, ensuring fees are not based on the content, purpose, viewpoint, invited guest content, or anticipated reactions to the event.
- 4Protections for speakers and guests: institutions must establish standards to protect the safety of invited speakers and guests, with such standards being publicly available.
- 5Enforcement and remedies: individuals harmed by violations can sue in federal court for relief (including injunctions and damages); a 2-year statute of limitations applies; courts’ judgments trigger reporting to the Secretary of Education, and potential revocation of federal funding eligibility if the institution does not comply, with a process to restore eligibility after corrective action.
- 6Rule of construction and reporting: preserves existing Title VII and Title IX protections; requires annual reporting to Congress on violations and actions taken.
- 7Administrative alignment: public institutions receiving HEA funds must comply with SEC. 112A as a condition of participation, tying the new rights to eligibility for federal program funds.