RISE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3939

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-12: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-02-04T09:06:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve access to information and support for students with disabilities, enabling better college selection and success after enrollment. It is titled the "Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act" or "RISE Act."

Key Provisions

• Requires colleges to accept specified documentation (such as an IEP, Section 504 plan, records from private or public schools, evaluations from licensed professionals, or service-related disability records) as sufficient to establish disability status for accommodations.
• Mandates that institutions adopt and publicly share transparent policies on determining eligibility for accommodations, including during orientations and on institutional websites.
• Authorizes $10,000,000 for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities.
• Requires colleges to report to federal data systems (such as IPEDS) the number of enrolled students with disabilities, those receiving accommodations, the percentage of such students among undergraduates, and degrees or certificates awarded to them, while protecting personally identifiable information.
• Includes a rule of construction clarifying that the Act does not alter definitions or rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Updates the definition of disability in the Higher Education Act by correcting a reference from "section 3(2)" to "section 3."
• Adds new requirements under Section 487(a) for participating institutions regarding disability documentation acceptance and information dissemination.
• Introduces mandatory data reporting on students with disabilities into existing postsecondary data collection systems.
• Provides specific funding authorization for an existing technical support center.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Increases data collection responsibilities for the Department of Education through expanded IPEDS reporting and supports the National Center via new appropriations.
• On citizens: Improves access to accommodations for students with disabilities and their families by reducing barriers to documentation and increasing transparency about institutional processes.
• On international relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Students with disabilities and their families.
• Institutions of higher education and their disability services offices.
• The Department of Education and related federal data systems.
• The National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• The rule of construction preserves existing rights and definitions under the Americans with Disabilities Act, avoiding any expansion or reinterpretation of those protections.
• Emphasizes institutional flexibility by allowing less burdensome criteria for establishing disability status beyond the listed documentation.
• Focuses on administrative and informational requirements rather than new mandates on accommodation standards.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-12: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-06-12: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (6 pages)