Helping Student Parents Succeed Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3985
- 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
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Helping Student Parents Succeed Act" (H.R. 3985) aims to support expectant (pregnant) and parenting students in higher education by requiring colleges and universities to clearly communicate their policies and available resources. This helps ensure these students have access to necessary information to continue their education without unnecessary barriers.
Key Provisions
- Policy Statement Requirement: Institutions participating in federal student aid programs must create and publicly share (including on their websites) a clear policy on leaves of absence for pregnancy (and related health issues) or the birth/adoption of a child. This policy must explain options for making up missed assignments or coursework, including any time limits.
- Resource Information: Institutions must provide balanced details on support services for expectant and parenting students, without promoting one option over another. Required topics include:
- Lactation (breastfeeding) spaces and accommodations.
- Processes for requesting adjustments, such as for pregnancy-related health needs or parenting duties (e.g., flexible scheduling).
- Financial aid details, including dependent care allowances in cost-of-attendance calculations, changing dependency status after a child's birth (even mid-year), emergency aid programs, and how leaves affect academic progress and aid eligibility.
- Access to services like academic advising, child care subsidies, housing/utility aid, food assistance, public benefits, health care/insurance, mental health support, transportation, mentoring, and community resources under local, state, and federal laws.
- Availability of on-campus housing that allows students to live with dependents (children).
- Rights and protections under federal and state laws.
- Procedures for filing complaints about discrimination, including under Title IX (which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, covering pregnancy) and laws protecting people with disabilities (like the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA).
- Contact information for key offices, such as accessibility services, Title IX coordinators, and staff supporting these students.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (which deals with institutional reporting and consumer information) by adding a new subsection (n). Previously, institutions had general obligations to report certain data and policies, but there was no specific mandate to disclose detailed, centralized information on supports for expectant and parenting students. This creates a uniform national requirement for transparency, building on but expanding existing anti-discrimination laws like Title IX.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education may need to update guidance, monitor compliance through audits of institutions receiving federal aid, and potentially enforce penalties for non-compliance (e.g., loss of funding eligibility). No direct impact on other agencies or international relations.
- On Citizens: Expectant and parenting students (about 20-25% of college enrollees) could face fewer disruptions, improving graduation rates and access to education. Other students and families might indirectly benefit from more inclusive campus environments.
- On Institutions: Colleges and universities must invest time and resources to develop policies, update websites, and train staff, potentially increasing administrative costs but fostering a more supportive culture.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Higher Education Institutions: Public and private colleges/universities receiving federal student aid (most do) must implement and maintain these disclosures.
- Expectant and Parenting Students: Primary beneficiaries, gaining easier access to protections and resources to balance education and family responsibilities.
- Federal Financial Aid Programs: Affected through eligibility rules for aid, leaves, and cost adjustments.
- Advocacy Groups and Staff: Title IX coordinators, accessibility offices, and student support teams will handle more inquiries and complaints.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of existing laws like Title IX (ensuring no sex-based barriers, including pregnancy) and disability protections (treating pregnancy-related conditions as disabilities if needed). It promotes equal educational access without creating new rights, but clarifies reporting for complaints, potentially reducing litigation by improving transparency.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Equal Protection Clause by addressing potential disparities in education access; no major constitutional challenges anticipated as it focuses on information disclosure rather than mandating specific actions.
- Political: Introduced with bipartisan support (from both Republican and Democratic members), suggesting broad appeal for family-friendly policies in education. It could influence future debates on student support amid rising college costs and family formation trends, without overriding state laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
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
- Helping Student Parents Succeed Act — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (6 pages)