Equal Campus Access Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5505
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-27T08:06:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5505: Equal Campus Access Act of 2025
Purpose
The legislation aims to protect religious student organizations at public colleges and universities by ensuring they receive the same access to campus resources and official recognition as other student groups, with the goal of preventing discrimination based on religious beliefs or practices.
Key Provisions
- Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding a new section (Section 124) under Part B of Title I.
- Prohibits the use of any federal funds provided under the Act to public institutions of higher education that deny religious student organizations the same rights, benefits, or privileges granted to other student organizations.
- Specifically includes protections for full access to campus facilities and official recognition by the institution.
- Applies the restriction when denial is due to the organization's religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new funding condition not previously present in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
- Creates an explicit federal requirement for equal treatment of religious groups at public institutions receiving federal support, expanding on general nondiscrimination principles in education law.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Public colleges and universities may need to adjust policies on student organization recognition and facility access to retain federal funding eligibility.
- On citizens: Religious students and groups could gain greater ability to operate on campus; other student organizations may see no direct change but could benefit from consistent access rules.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Public institutions of higher education and their administrators.
- Religious student organizations and their members.
- Federal agencies responsible for administering higher education funding.
- Broader student bodies at public colleges and universities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Ties federal funding to compliance with equal access rules, potentially raising questions about the balance between institutional autonomy and religious freedom protections under the First Amendment.
- May influence campus policies on viewpoint neutrality and free speech for student groups.
- Could lead to legal challenges regarding the scope of conditions on federal grants to state-run institutions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
- 2026-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-09-18: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (2 pages)