Katie Meyer’s Law

Bill Number

H.R. 5545

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-23: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-04-29T08:07:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation, titled "Katie Meyer's Law," aims to protect students at institutions of higher education (IHEs) by requiring them to provide access to advisers during disciplinary processes for alleged code of conduct violations. It ensures students facing such proceedings have support to navigate the system fairly. Additionally, it expands reporting requirements for campus safety data to include suicides.

Key Provisions

• Adviser Policy Requirement: To remain eligible for federal funding under applicable education programs (e.g., student aid programs), IHEs must adopt a policy allowing students notified of an alleged code of conduct violation to choose assistance from an adviser.
• Students can select their own outside adviser or request an independent one from the institution.
• Notifications must clearly inform students of these options.
• Institutions may provide independent advisers through roles like a confidential respondent services coordinator, partnerships with student peer support programs, or alumni support programs.
• Adviser Responsibilities and Training:
• Advisers (whether outside or institution-provided) must be trained by the IHE on its adjudication (decision-making) procedures for the violation.
• With the student's written permission, advisers receive bi-weekly updates during the process.
• Advisers can act as an advocate for the student or participate as allowed by state law and Title IX (a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education, which often applies to campus sexual misconduct cases).
• Reporting Expansion: Amends the Higher Education Act to require IHEs to report incidents of suicide to campus security authorities or local police in their annual Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics report (commonly known as the Clery Act report).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new mandatory policy for IHEs regarding student advisers in disciplinary matters, which was not previously required under federal law. This ties eligibility for federal funds directly to compliance.
• Modifies the Clery Act (part of the Higher Education Act) by adding suicide incidents to the list of reportable events in annual campus safety disclosures, building on existing requirements for crimes like assaults or thefts.

Potential Impacts

• On IHEs: Institutions must develop and implement new policies, training programs, and potentially partnerships, which could increase administrative costs but promote fairer disciplinary processes. Non-compliance risks loss of federal funding, affecting operations and student aid distribution.
• On Citizens (Students): Accused students gain better access to support, potentially reducing stress and improving outcomes in hearings, especially in sensitive cases like Title IX violations. This could lead to fewer unfair expulsions or sanctions.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education may need to oversee compliance and update guidance for funding programs, with minimal direct impact on other agencies.
• International Relations: No direct effects, as the bill focuses on domestic higher education.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Institutions of Higher Education: Primary implementers, including public and private colleges and universities receiving federal funds.
• Students: Especially those facing disciplinary actions for code of conduct violations, providing them with advocacy options.
• Federal Education Agencies: Such as the Department of Education, responsible for enforcing funding eligibility and monitoring reports.
• Support Organizations: Peer, alumni, or coordinator programs that may partner with IHEs to provide advisers.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens procedural fairness in campus discipline, aligning with due process principles under the U.S. Constitution (14th Amendment), which requires fair treatment in educational settings. It interacts with Title IX by specifying adviser roles in sex discrimination cases without altering core Title IX rules.
• Constitutional: Enhances student rights to representation in quasi-judicial (hearing-like) processes on campus, potentially reducing challenges to IHE decisions in court.
• Political: Reflects growing bipartisan concern over student mental health and equity in disciplinary systems, inspired by high-profile cases (e.g., Katie Meyer's suicide amid a conduct investigation). It could spark debates on balancing student protections with institutional autonomy, but avoids mandating specific outcomes in hearings.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

Cosponsors (18)

Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-23: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-09-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Katie Meyer’s Law — issued 2025-09-23 — PDF (4 pages)