Education & Training

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Michael Baumgartner (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a comprehensive federal framework for college sports by protecting student athletes' name, image, and likeness rights, regulating athlete agents, and requiring schools and athletic associations to meet standards on disclosures, academics, medical coverage, health and safety, gender equity, and transfer rules. It would also set eligibility and compensation limits for college athletes, create a commission on college athletics, and rewrite media rules by granting antitrust exemptions for pooling media rights, requiring revenue distribution and local broadcast access, and preempting state laws. This bill directly regulates colleges and universities that run Division I athletics, requiring them to protect student athletes' name, image, and likeness earnings, cover medical expenses, report NIL data, cap compensation, and follow health and equity standards, while granting them antitrust exemptions and shared media rights revenue.

Where it stands

HR9137 was referred on June 4, 2026 to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, each for the provisions falling within its jurisdiction, and no hearing, markup, or other committee action has been recorded since referral, leaving the measure stalled with all three committee chairs as gatekeepers.

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Ted Cruz (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would set a wide-ranging federal framework for college sports: it would bar schools and athletic associations from stopping athletes from earning money for their name, image, and likeness, add reporting and registration rules including a 5 percent cap on agent fees, set compensation and transfer eligibility rules with antitrust exemptions, and create public databases, an athlete ombudsman, and a commission on college athletics. It would also protect women's and Olympic sports by freezing roster spots and scholarship levels at 2024-2025 levels, grant a new college sports media rights entity an antitrust exemption, and fund broadband and broadcasting improvements at historically Black colleges and other minority-serving institutions with up to $180,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. This bill directly regulates colleges and universities with intercollegiate athletics, barring them from restricting athlete NIL deals, requiring NIL disclosures, medical coverage, safety officers, and scholarship protections, capping coach pay, and granting them antitrust protection and revenue from pooled media rights.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S. 4668 with an amendment by a 77-22 vote on September 28, 2026, and the bill was held at the desk in the House on October 5, 2026. The Senate side is complete, and the measure now waits entirely on what the House does with it.

Science of Reading Act of 2026

Erin Houchin (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar the three-cueing teaching method from the definition of comprehensive literacy instruction under federal K-12 education law and define the science of reading as evidence-based instruction built on phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing. It would also require state literacy grant applications to describe their alignment with the science of reading and would give priority for those federal literacy grants and subgrants to programs aligned with it, applying to funds awarded on or after enactment. This bill directly affects K-12 schools, tutors, and curriculum and training providers by excluding three-cueing from federal literacy instruction, and giving federal grant priority to programs aligned with science-of-reading phonics instruction.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill by voice vote under suspension of the rules, as amended, on September 16, 2026, after the House Committee on Education and Workforce voted at a March 17, 2026 markup to report it and filed its written report on June 29, 2026. The Senate received it on September 17, 2026, read it twice, and referred it to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, so the bill is now pending in the Senate and that chamber's action is what matters next.

No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026

Ashley Moody (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Education Department, starting October 1, 2026, to run an identity fraud detection system on every federal student aid application and notify both the applicant and any designated schools when an application raises a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. It would also bar schools from disbursing federal aid to a flagged applicant unless the school first verifies that person's identity in person or by live video, notifies the Department, and keeps a record of the check. This bill requires colleges, universities, junior colleges, technical and trade schools, and business and computer training schools to verify flagged applicants' identities in person or by live video, keep records, and delay federal aid disbursement until verification is complete.

Where it stands

S4428 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on April 29, 2026, and the committee took the bill up at a markup on September 30, 2026, the most recent dated action in our data; whether the bill was ordered reported at that markup is not recorded in our facts.

No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026

Burgess Owens (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to screen federal student aid applications for suspected fraud starting October 1, 2026. It also prohibits colleges from disbursing federal aid to applicants flagged for suspected identity fraud unless the school first verifies the student's identity through specific methods such as in-person checks or advanced digital authentication. This bill requires colleges, universities, junior colleges, and technical and trade schools to verify the identity of applicants flagged for suspected fraud before disbursing federal student aid, adding verification steps, recordkeeping duties, and review risk starting October 1, 2026.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill on June 10, 2026, and the Senate received it on June 11, 2026, reading it twice and referring it to the Committee on Health, Education, and Labor.

USMMA Athletics Act of 2026

Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a nonprofit corporation to support athletic programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy through fundraising, licensing, and private contributions. It also allows the Secretary to retain and use trademark licensing fees for academy recruiting and operational costs while permitting the transfer of existing nonappropriated fund assets to the new corporation. This bill lets the United States Merchant Marine Academy keep trademark licensing fees and private donations through a new nonprofit corporation to fund its athletic and recruiting programs, and to lease campus property to that corporation.

Where it stands

HR6961 was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services on January 7, 2026 and has no scheduled meetings, while its companion S3266 passed the Senate and is held at the desk as of August 10, 2026.

Title IX Clarification Act of 2026

Marsha Blackburn (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would rewrite federal Title IX rules for education programs and activities that receive federal money by defining sex as biologically determined, with male and female defined by whether a person's reproductive system produces eggs or sperm. Schools receiving federal funds would have to apply these biology-based definitions in their federal nondiscrimination obligations for any funding received on or after enactment. This bill requires every school, college, university, and training provider receiving federal funds to define sex under Title IX strictly by biological sex, changing who they may treat as protected and conditioning their federal aid on that rule.

Where it stands

S5179 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on July 30, 2026. It sits with that committee; no hearing or markup appears in the record, and no upcoming committee meetings are scheduled.

Student Protection and University Accountability Act

Elise M. Stefanik (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

Colleges and universities that receive federal student aid would have to set up and publicly describe investigative processes for discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, notify complainants within 30 days when a complaint is received and when an outcome is reached, keep complaint records, distribute Education Department civil rights awareness materials on campus and online, and file an annual compliance attestation with the government. An institution that fails to comply for two consecutive award years would lose eligibility for federal higher education programs for at least the next two years, and the bill would also require the Education Department's civil rights office to brief Congress bimonthly on Title VI complaints and bar it from dismissing or delaying a complaint merely because the same allegations were filed elsewhere. This bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal student aid to establish Title VI discrimination complaint investigation processes, publish them, keep records, notify complainants within 30 days, and file annual attestations, with two years of noncompliance costing federal aid eligibility.

Where it stands

The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on June 25, 2026 and voted to order the bill reported, and the written report was filed on September 8, 2026, the same day it was placed on the Union Calendar as Calendar No. 700. Union Calendar placement conveys eligibility for floor action only; it schedules nothing and, by itself, predicts nothing.

K–12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026

Tim Sheehy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would allow federal education funds to be used for teaching students how to use artificial intelligence safely and responsibly. It would also permit these funds to pay for professional development that trains teachers and school administrators on how to use and teach AI. This bill allows federal K-12 education funds to pay for AI literacy curricula for students and professional development that trains teachers, librarians, and administrators, and it also expands demand for the education software and training providers that sell these services.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on August 4, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls markup scheduling. No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the calendar data.

Less Bureaucracy, Better K–12 Education Act

Mark Harris (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move roughly 25 federal K-12 education programs, including Title I grants for disadvantaged students, charter school and magnet school aid, Impact Aid, rural school programs, and homeless student education grants, from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, along with the staff, contracts, records, and unspent funds tied to those programs. The transfer could begin as soon as the president signs the bill, must be complete within 6 months of enactment, and the Office of Management and Budget would have to certify that the move causes no net increase in federal employees at the affected agencies. This bill moves federal K-12 programs, including Title I aid to disadvantaged students, from the Education Department to the Labor Department, shifting how school districts, charter schools, and grant recipients receive and manage these funds.

Where it stands

The bill was referred on July 9, 2026 to four committees, the House Committee on Education and Workforce and also the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform. On July 15, 2026 the Education and Workforce committee held a markup and ordered the bill reported as amended by a recorded vote of 19 to 16, so it has cleared one committee vote, but no written report is on the record and the bill has no calendar placement.

Less Bureaucracy, Better International Foreign Gift Transparency Act

Michael Baumgartner (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move the federal functions for tracking and disclosing foreign gifts to colleges and universities from the Department of Education to the Department of State, transferring the relevant staff, funds, contracts, and records along with the work. It would let the change start as soon as the President signs the bill, with the official effective date six months later, and it bars any net increase in federal staffing across the affected agencies. This bill requires colleges and universities that receive foreign gifts to keep filing their disclosure reports, but moves oversight from the Department of Education to the State Department, shifting where their filings, records, and pending cases go.

Where it stands

At its markup on July 15, 2026, the House Committee on Education and Workforce ordered the bill reported as amended by a vote of 20 to 16. That vote is the report-out event, though no written report or calendar placement appears on the record yet.

Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act

Mark Harris (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would move about 20 higher education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, including HBCU and minority-serving institution grants, TRIO and GEAR UP, graduate assistance programs, disability programs, and Howard University operations, along with their staff, funds, contracts, and other assets. It would also repeal four programs outright, the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, the College Access Challenge Grant Program, and Project Grad, ending those federal scholarships and grants, with the transfers taking effect within 6 months after enactment. This bill moves about twenty higher education grant and loan programs, including TRIO, GEAR UP, HBCU, and Hispanic-serving institution funding, from the Education Department to Labor, keeping grantee colleges funded but ending four college-access programs.

Where it stands

On July 15, 2026 the House Committee on Education and Workforce, at its markup, ordered H.R. 9611 reported as amended by a vote of 20 to 16, after referral to that committee on July 9, 2026. The committee vote to report is report-out; no written report has been filed and the bill has not been placed on any calendar.

Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act

Burgess Owens (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move 22 federal Indian education and job training programs, including tribal education grants, Native American career and technical education, the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services program, and grants to tribal and Native-serving colleges, from the Department of Education to the Department of the Interior, along with their staff, funds, contracts, and records, and would repeal two provisions of the Higher Education Act. The Interior Secretary would take over the programs with the same legal authorities, existing grants and lawsuits would continue, and the transfer would take effect one year after the Education Secretary publishes a written response to its consultation with Indian Tribes, though moves could start earlier. This bill moves federal grant programs for tribal colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and schools serving Native students from the Education Department to Interior while keeping their funding, grants, and applications unchanged.

Where it stands

On July 15, 2026, the House Committee on Education and Workforce met in markup and ordered H.R. 9604 reported as amended by a vote of 20 to 15, after referral to that committee on July 9, 2026. No written report and no calendar placement appear in the record yet, so the bill has cleared the markup vote but is not listed on a calendar.

Less Bureaucracy, Better Child Care for Student Parents Act

Robert F. Onder, Jr. (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move the federal program that funds campus child care for low-income student parents, set up under section 419N of the Higher Education Act, from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services, along with its staff, funds, contracts, and records. It would preserve all existing grants, contracts, rules, and pending applications during the switch, take effect six months after enactment with transfers allowed to begin immediately, and cap federal staffing so the move creates no net increase in federal employees. This bill moves the federal CCAMPIS child care grant program for low-income student parents from the Education Department to HHS, letting colleges and universities keep receiving and spending those grant funds unchanged.

Where it stands

On July 15, 2026 the House Committee on Education and Workforce, at its markup, ordered H.R. 9606 reported (amended) on a 20 to 16 vote. The record shows no written report filed and no calendar placement.

Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act

Tim Walberg (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move federal career and technical education, adult education, and adult literacy programs, including those under the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, along with the staff, funds, contracts, and records tied to them. It would require existing grants, rules, and pending applications to continue under the Labor Department, cap federal staffing so the transfer causes no net increase in federal employees, and take effect six months after the president signs it. This bill moves federal career and technical education, adult education, and literacy programs, including Perkins grants that fund community colleges, trade schools, and school districts, from the Education Department to the Labor Department, keeping existing grants and applications unchanged.

Where it stands

The House referred H.R. 9607 to the Committee on Education and Workforce on July 9, 2026, and at a markup on July 15, 2026 the committee voted 19 to 16 to order the bill reported as amended. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement appears on the record, and the disposition of certain committee amendments remains unresolved, so the text as reported may still differ.

Title IX Clarification Act of 2026

Jodey C. Arrington (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to define sex, male, and female strictly in biological terms, using gamete type, so that federal nondiscrimination rules for education programs receiving federal money would turn on that biological definition. The change would take effect when the bill is signed into law and would apply to education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance on or after that date. This bill redefines sex under Title IX in strictly biological terms, so schools, colleges, and training providers receiving federal money must apply that definition to their nondiscrimination rules, teams, facilities, and programs.

Where it stands

HR8781 was reported by the House Committee on Education and Workforce: the committee ordered it reported at its July 21, 2026 markup, and the written report was filed September 8, 2026, the same day the bill was placed on the Union Calendar as Calendar No. 698. Union Calendar placement makes the bill eligible for floor consideration in the Committee of the Whole, but it is only a list of eligible measures and schedules nothing.

Pregnant Students’ Rights Act

Ashley Moody (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act would require colleges and universities participating in federal aid programs to send annual emails and post information about resources, accommodations, and complaint procedures for pregnant students. Institutions must distribute these details through handbooks, orientations, health centers, and their websites to inform students of their rights under Title IX. This bill requires colleges, universities, junior colleges, and trade schools that receive federal aid to notify pregnant students each year, through handbooks, orientations, websites, and health centers, about their Title IX rights, accommodations, and complaint procedures.

Where it stands

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act is stalled on the Senate Legislative Calendar after the body failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed by a 47 to 45 vote on January 27, 2026. The measure was previously placed on General Orders on January 14, 2026, and no committee meetings are currently scheduled for the bill.

READ Act

Bill Cassidy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would rework the federal comprehensive literacy grant program so that states receiving grants must use evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading, run universal early literacy screenings before third grade, evaluate their teacher licensure standards and review their teacher preparation programs for alignment, and spend at least 75 percent of grant funds on local literacy efforts such as coaching, tutoring, and approved instructional materials. It would give absolute grant priority to states in the lowest quintile of fourth grade reading scores, bar three-cueing teaching methods from the program's definition of comprehensive literacy instruction, and require timely notification to parents when a child is identified as at risk of reading difficulties or performing below grade level in reading. This bill sends federal literacy grants to states that must pass most funds to elementary and secondary schools, which must screen young readers and notify parents, while colleges with teacher preparation programs face reviews and updated coursework requirements.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ordered the READ Act reported at its July 30, 2026 markup, and on August 6, 2026 the bill was reported without a written report and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 549. The committee stage is complete and the bill now awaits the majority leader's decision on whether and when to bring it to the floor.

School Freedom Act of 2026

Nancy Mace (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would terminate existing federal elementary and secondary education programs by a date no later than June 30, 2027, bar new appropriations for them, and redirect the money into a new School Freedom Account program run by the Treasury Department. Each school year, Treasury would deposit each eligible child's share of federal per-pupil spending (plus $2,000 for children with disabilities) into an account that parents could spend on private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool materials, online courses, therapies, and other listed education expenses, or approve for disbursement to their child's public school, and leftover federal money would move into a Higher Education and Skills Obtainment Fund usable for college or career training until the account holder turns 30. This bill ends federal K-12 programs by mid-2027 and puts the money into per-child accounts that public districts, private schools, tutors, online providers, trade schools, colleges, and educational therapists can receive as payment from families.

Where it stands

HR 10801, the School Freedom Act of 2026, was referred on October 13, 2026 to the Committee on Education and Workforce and, in addition, to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker. This is the bill's first committee-stage posture; neither committee has taken further action in the record, and no meetings are scheduled in our calendar data.

Don’t Block LGBTQ Act of 2026

Bradley Scott Schneider (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Communications Act of 1934 so that elementary schools, secondary schools, and public libraries receiving discounted internet service through the federal universal service program would lose eligibility for those discounts if they block access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer resources, a term the bill defines as information related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and related topics, excluding certain obscene visual depictions already barred by the program's existing rules. This bill conditions eligibility for discounted federal internet service on schools, school districts, colleges and universities that receive universal service discounts, requiring them to allow access to LGBTQ-related online information or lose that discount.

Where it stands

HR10805 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 13, 2026 and sits at the earliest committee stage, with no hearing or markup currently scheduled; the committee chair decides whether to notice one.

Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

Jim Banks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would prohibit the use of federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds for programs or materials that include sexually oriented content or expose children to nudity and lewd dancing. It explicitly defines sexually oriented material to include content involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism while preserving funding for standard science, religious texts, and specific classic works. This bill bars K-12 schools and educational support providers from using federal ESEA funds for programs, curricula, or materials containing sexually oriented content, including content on gender identity, putting funding eligibility at risk for those with existing such programs.

Where it stands

S4925 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 24, 2026. The bill is currently in committee with no scheduled meetings, while its companion HR7661 was placed on the Union Calendar on July 2, 2026.

Workforce for AI Trust Act

Zoe Lofgren (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to have the National Science Foundation support new graduate and postdoctoral fellowships for research on trustworthy artificial intelligence, skills-based AI training and workshops across STEM fields, and to require that merit review panels for AI research proposals draw on multiple disciplines including social science, ethics, law, and linguistics. It would also have the National Institute of Standards and Technology develop and publish an artificial intelligence workforce framework, in consultation with the Labor Department, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies, and use it to provide technical assistance for federal AI workforce and scholarship programs. This bill sends new NSF funding to colleges and universities for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, workshops, and AI skills training, while NIST and Labor build an AI workforce framework that shapes training providers and job pipelines.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 18, 2026, and at a markup on June 25, 2026, the committee ordered it to be reported in the nature of a substitute (amended) by a vote of 35 to 0. The committee vote to report is itself the report-out event, though no written report or calendar placement appears on the record yet, and the disposition of some committee amendments is unresolved, so the text as reported may still differ.

Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act

James C. Moylan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would require public colleges and universities that receive federal aid to charge students from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands no more than the in-state tuition rate. Institutions would need to agree to this pricing rule as a condition of their participation in federal student aid programs. This bill directly restricts public colleges and universities that receive federal student aid by requiring them to charge students from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands the in-state tuition rate as a condition of federal aid participation.

Where it stands

HR 6472 passed the House on March 4, 2026 and was received in the Senate on March 9, 2026, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

No Antisemitism in Education Act of 2026

Randy Fine (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require schools and universities receiving federal funds to address antisemitism with the same urgency as other forms of discrimination prohibited by civil rights laws. It would also mandate that federal agencies and educational institutions use a specific definition of antisemitism when investigating such complaints. This bill requires school districts, colleges, and universities that receive federal funds to combat antisemitic discrimination as vigorously as other civil rights violations, using a mandated definition, putting their federal funding at risk if they fail.

Where it stands

HR8476 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the House Committee on the Judiciary, with the Education and Workforce Committee holding a markup on June 25, 2026, and filing its written report on August 20, 2026, following the discharge of the Judiciary Committee. The measure was placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 660, on August 20, 2026.

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Education & Training.

Robert B. Aderholt (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would appropriate billions of dollars for health care, education, and labor programs while also imposing specific spending restrictions on topics such as abortion and gender identity. It would further reduce funding by rescinding billions from existing accounts and eliminating subsidized undergraduate student loans. This bill funds schools, community colleges, Job Corps, and medical education programs while cutting off federal money to institutions that fail conditions on antisemitism policies, women's sports, parent notification, foreign partnerships, or subsidized student loans for undergraduates.

Where it stands

HR9260 was ordered reported by the House Committee on Appropriations following a markup on June 11, 2026, and was placed on the Union Calendar as Calendar No. 604 on the same date. This placement signifies eligibility for floor consideration in the Committee of the Whole but does not schedule a specific vote.

Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026

Virginia Foxx (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would cut off federal Higher Education Act funding for colleges and universities that take part in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of a major strategic partner of the United States, a term defined by reference to another law that includes Israel. It would also require any college participating in or applying for Title VI international education programs to certify each year, by July 31, that students and faculty can join academic programs with and in that partner country on the same terms as with other countries, with colleges that miss the deadline losing all Title VI money for the following fiscal year. This bill makes colleges and universities that boycott a major US strategic partner ineligible for certain Higher Education Act funds, and requires annual Title VI certifications or they lose all Title VI funding.

Where it stands

The House passed H.R. 4795 by a vote of 237 to 169 on September 3, 2026, after the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on June 25, 2026, filed its written report on August 27, 2026, and the bill was placed on the Union Calendar. On September 14, 2026 the bill was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it now awaits that chamber's action.

Pregnant Students’ Rights Act

Ashley Hinson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires colleges and universities participating in federal aid programs to inform students annually about rights, accommodations, and resources for pregnant students who choose to carry a pregnancy to term. Institutions must distribute this information via email, student handbooks, orientations, health centers, and public websites, including instructions on how to file discrimination complaints. This bill requires every college, university, junior college, and technical or trade school that participates in federal student aid programs to annually inform students by email, handbooks, orientations, health centers, and websites about rights and resources for pregnant students, adding new administrative duties and costs for these institutions.

Where it stands

The House passed the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act on January 22, 2026, and the Senate received the bill on January 26, 2026, placing it on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 303.

Civic Literacy in Higher Education Act

Max L. Miller (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would make colleges and universities that receive federal higher education funding add a new graduation requirement: any student who is a United States citizen by birth would have to demonstrate the same knowledge required for naturalization, such as by passing the citizenship test, in a closed-book exam proctored by a faculty member before graduating from any program of study. This bill requires colleges, universities, and junior colleges that receive federal higher education funding to proctor a closed-book citizenship test as a new graduation condition for every student who is a US citizen by birth.

Where it stands

HR10786 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on October 9, 2026 and no further action is recorded. The bill now awaits committee action, whose ordinary next step is a markup that the chair decides whether to notice, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

RELA Act of 2026

Jeff Crank (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar federal, state, and local governments from mandating, directing, or controlling any aspect of scholarship granting organizations in the federal scholarship tax-credit program or of private and religious elementary and secondary schools. It would also prohibit governments from excluding tuition and other expenses at private or faith-based schools from counting as qualified education expenses, from disadvantaging schools based on religious character or mission-based policies, and from disfavoring parents' use of those scholarships at private or nonprofit schools. This bill bars governments from controlling private and religious elementary and secondary schools or excluding their tuition from the federal scholarship tax-credit program, expanding tuition funding for these schools while reducing oversight of scholarship granting organizations.

Where it stands

HR10773, the RELA Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2026 and sits at the start of the committee stage, with no hearing or markup scheduled in our calendar data. Committee action is the ordinary route, though suspension, a special rule, or discharge could provide another path.

Emergency Preparedness in Higher Education Act

Troy A. Carter (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct FEMA to set up, within 180 days of enactment, a grant program giving eligible higher education institutions awards of at least $250,000 and up to $5,000,000 to create or expand emergency preparedness programs, including staff costs, emergency planning documents, construction of emergency operations centers and shelter areas, and new equipment and technology. It would authorize $100,000,000 in appropriations for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and require FEMA to report to Congress on the program's effectiveness within three years. This bill creates a FEMA grant program giving colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools, and career colleges $250,000 to $5,000,000 each to build emergency preparedness programs, plans, staff, shelters, and coordination equipment.

Where it stands

HR10771 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on October 9, 2026 and now sits at the committee stage, where the committee chair decides whether the bill gets a hearing or a markup. No meetings are scheduled in our calendar data, and committee action, while ordinary, is not an absolute prerequisite for floor movement.

Student Aid Fraud Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026

Jon Husted (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Education Secretary to identify institutions of higher education that, on or after October 1, 2026, disbursed federal student aid for students whose aid applications were flagged by the Secretary's identity fraud detection system as presenting a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, unless the school verified each such student's identity in person or by live synchronous video before disbursing the aid, reported the verification to the Secretary, and kept a record of it. Schools placed on that list would fall into a priority category for federal program reviews, and the listing could inform audits, investigations, and other oversight, though the listing alone would not count as a finding that the school violated federal aid rules. This bill requires colleges, universities, junior colleges, business schools, and technical and trade schools that release federal financial aid without verifying flagged students' identities to face prioritized program reviews, unless they verify identities in person or by live video.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on May 14, 2026, and it remains there with no hearing or markup on record, the ordinary referral posture in which the committee controls whether anything happens next.

CHARLIE Act

Burgess Owens (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar the use of federal American history and civics grant funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for what it calls discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology, terms it defines by pointing to two named executive orders, and would forbid the Education Secretary from giving grant priority to any applicant based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status, including the identity of the entity, its staff, the people it serves, or its proposed activities. This bill bars school districts and other grant applicants from using federal American history and civics grant funds for equity or gender ideology activities and stops the Education Secretary from prioritizing applicants by race, sex, or similar traits.

Where it stands

On May 21, 2026 the House Committee on Education and Workforce, at a markup, ordered H.R. 8705, the CHARLIE Act, reported as amended by a vote of 19 to 15. That markup vote is the report-out event, but no written report or calendar placement appears on the record, so the bill has cleared committee and the next step rests with House majority leadership.

Campus Accountability and Safety Act of 2026

Ro Khanna (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Clery Act to require colleges and universities that receive federal funds to publish more detailed annual statistics on campus sexual assault cases, including discipline outcomes, and to designate confidential sexual and interpersonal violence specialists, adopt uniform campus disciplinary procedures for these cases, and train staff who handle such complaints. It would also direct the Education Department to build a public, searchable campus safety website, let it impose civil penalties of up to 1 percent of an institution's operating budget for each year of noncompliance, expand existing federal campus grant programs to cover sexual harassment, and require a federal study of those grants. This bill requires colleges and universities that receive federal funds to file detailed annual campus sexual assault reports, designate trained confidential specialists, adopt uniform discipline and staff training, and expands anti-violence grants to cover sexual harassment, with civil penalties up to 1 percent of operating budgets for noncompliance.

Where it stands

HR10761 was referred on October 6, 2026 to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and in addition to the House Committee on the Judiciary, with the period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker. Both referrals make each committee's chair a gatekeeper, and no hearings or markups are scheduled in our calendar data.

Fair Play Enforcement Act

Adrian Smith (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new excise tax on colleges and universities that knowingly let a person who has bet on an intercollegiate game, or who has been paid as a professional athlete, actively compete in an intercollegiate athletic event, with the tax set at 5 percent of the school's gross athletic receipts for a first violation, 10 percent for a second, and 20 percent for more, counted over a six-year span. Practice sessions, roster listings without actual play, and participation required by a court order would not count as violations, and related violations stemming from the same facts would be treated as a single violation. This bill imposes a new excise tax on colleges and universities that knowingly allow someone who bet on the game or was paid as a professional athlete to actively compete, costing up to 20 percent of gross athletic receipts.

Where it stands

HR 10767 was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on October 6, 2026. It now sits at the first stage of the House process, where a bill most commonly stalls unless the committee chair chooses to act on it.

EMPOWER for Health Act

Jack Reed (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill reauthorizes and increases funding for federal health workforce education and training programs through fiscal year 2031, with total annual authorizations rising to approximately $300 million. It also expands eligibility for pediatric workforce grants to include underserved populations and requires specific service obligations for grant recipients. This bill raises federal funding to about $47 million a year through 2031 for medical schools, nursing schools, and Area Health Education Centers, while tying workforce grants and loan repayment to required service in underserved areas.

Where it stands

The bill was reported by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on July 28, 2026, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 529. Since it was reported without a written report, no waiting period applies, and the measure is now awaiting floor consideration.

HERO Act

Raul Ruiz (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a competitive grant program run by the Health and Human Services Department, with input from the Education Department, to pay private schools and local educational agencies, including charter school agencies, for one-year grants to buy federally approved opioid overdose reversal drugs and to build emergency response plans and educational programming on CPR, drug-use prevention, and overdose response, with priority going to schools in areas with high opioid overdose rates. It would also require schools receiving federal funds, beginning within 90 days of enactment, to report any distribution of an overdose reversal drug to two federal overdose tracking systems, NEMSIS and ODMAP, and grant recipients would have to report on their drug use, response plans, and programming. This bill funds private schools, charter school agencies, and local educational agencies with one-year grants to buy opioid overdose reversal drugs and build emergency response and training programs, while requiring any federally funded school to report every drug distribution to federal tracking systems.

Where it stands

On July 21, 2026, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, at a markup, ordered the HERO Act (HR 7994) reported as amended by a vote of 48 to 0, following a hearing on March 26, 2026 and markups on June 25, 2026 and July 20, 2026. The bill was referred on March 19, 2026 to both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Education and Workforce, the latter showing no recorded action, and the record shows no written report filed and no calendar placement, though a report is not a prerequisite for House floor action.

Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2026

Debbie Dingell (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend Title IX to make federally funded schools and education programs legally liable for sex-based harassment by their employees or agents whose authority enabled the harassment whenever it interferes with a person's ability to take part in the program, and also liable for harassment by other employees, agents, or third parties when the school knew or should have known of it and cannot show it exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the effects. It would also give students and others harmed by such harassment an explicit right to sue in court and to recover compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees, reversing narrower court-created standards that limited money damages. This bill makes schools, colleges, and other federally funded education programs liable for sex-based harassment by employees or third parties and lets victims sue them for compensatory and punitive damages plus attorney fees.

Where it stands

HR10734, the Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on October 5, 2026. It is at the start of the committee stage, where a hearing is possible but not required and no hearing or markup is on the committee's calendar.

America’s College Promise Act of 2026

Adelita S. Grijalva (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a federal-state grant program that pays most of the cost of making community college tuition-free for eligible students, with the federal share starting at 100 percent and stepping down to 80 percent while states cover the rest, set tuition and fees to $0, and meet maintenance-of-effort and transfer-alignment requirements. It would also appropriate $1 billion a year for a Student Success Fund for states and tribal colleges to improve student outcomes, and set up a separate grant program with appropriations rising to about $2.5 billion a year for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions to waive or reduce tuition for low-income students. This bill gives public community colleges, tribal colleges, HBCUs, and minority-serving institutions new federal grants to cover tuition-free programs and student success efforts, while private and for-profit competitors and participating states face enrollment shifts and rising matching costs.

Where it stands

HR10672 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on October 1, 2026 and sits at the very start of the committee stage, with no hearing or markup scheduled in our calendar data. At this stage the committee chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup, so the referral is the bill's only procedural event so far.

SUCCESS Act of 2026

Debbie Dingell (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a competitive federal grant program, run for five years per award, giving colleges and universities money to offer patient-centered academic counseling, tutoring, re-entry help, and mental health services for students who are survivors of sexual assault or other violence, with priority going to schools with a history of Title IX violations, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions. It would also require grant recipients to report survivor graduation and re-enrollment data to the Education Department, and it authorizes whatever sums Congress chooses to appropriate for fiscal year 2027 and the four years after. This bill gives five-year competitive federal grants to colleges, universities, community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and schools with Title IX violation histories to fund counseling, tutoring, mental health services, and support for student survivors, with reporting duties on outcomes.

Where it stands

The SUCCESS Act of 2026 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on October 1, 2026, so it is at the start of the committee stage, with no hearing or markup noticed and no meetings scheduled in our calendar data.

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2026

Madeleine Dean (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Education Secretary to issue guidance and recommendations encouraging colleges to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admissions applications, including advice on limiting such questions to non-admissions settings, delaying any necessary inquiries until after an admission decision, notifying applicants within 30 days if a denial is based solely on that history, and training staff who handle this information. It would also have the Secretary provide colleges with training and technical assistance on these policies and set up a federal resource center collecting best practices and research on formerly incarcerated and justice-involved students. This bill gives colleges and universities federally funded training, technical assistance, and a best-practices resource center to help them drop or delay criminal history questions in admissions.

Where it stands

HR10661 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on October 1, 2026, placing it at committee stage, where the committee chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed; no hearing or markup is scheduled in our calendar data.

Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act

Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would change three provisions in an 1890 federal land grant law for Wyoming so that the schools funded by that land trust may draw on all earnings from the trust, rather than being limited to interest and income. In practice, this would let Wyoming's educational trust spend a broader pool of returns, including gains beyond interest alone. This bill changes how Wyoming's federal school land trust payments are figured, counting earnings on the trust funds instead of only interest, which can send more money to Wyoming public schools and educational purposes.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S. 2273 without amendment by unanimous consent on September 30, 2026, and the House received it and held it at the desk on October 5, 2026. The bill is no longer before the Senate; it is now pending in the House, whose action alone can move it forward.

A bill to prohibit the transfer of certain offices and functions of the Department of Education to other Federal agencies, and for other purposes.

Tim Kaine (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar the Secretary of Education from moving the work of four department offices, including the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, to other federal agencies through interagency agreements, transfers of staff or money, or shared services, with an exception for arrangements that already existed as of February 1, 2025. It would also require the Secretary to publish quarterly cost reports on any interagency agreements made after that date, and it would block use of the Secretary's travel funds in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 until those reports are delivered. This bill keeps federal education programs for schools, colleges, universities, trade schools, and support services under the Department of Education by barring transfers to other agencies, so those institutions keep dealing with the same offices and rules.

Where it stands

S. 5046, which would bar transferring certain Department of Education offices and functions to other Federal agencies, was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on July 21, 2026, taken up at a markup on July 30, 2026, and reported on August 4, 2026. It now sits under General Orders on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 541, with no written report owed or expected, which is normal in the Senate.

Home School Graduation Recognition Act

Ashley Moody (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would amend the Higher Education Act to classify students who complete secondary education in a home school setting as high school graduates for federal purposes. This change would allow these students to meet the high school graduation requirement for federal student financial aid eligibility. This bill recognizes home-schooled students as high school graduates for federal aid purposes, expanding the pool of federally funded students that colleges, universities, junior colleges, and technical and trade schools can enroll.

Where it stands

The bill was reported by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on March 11, 2026, following a markup on February 26, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 354.

Less Bureaucracy, Better Student Aid Act

Tim Walberg (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would move the federal student aid functions of the Education Department, including servicing and collecting defaulted and non-defaulted federal student loans and administering programs like Pell Grants and Direct Loans, over to the Treasury Department, along with the staff, funds, contracts, and records that go with them, on transfer dates set jointly by the two secretaries. It would also end the statutory exemption that has kept delinquent or defaulted federal student loan debt out of the standard Debt Collection Improvement Act collection requirements, so that debt would be handled under the government's usual debt collection rules. This bill shifts federal student aid and loan functions from Education to Treasury, so schools, colleges, and training providers would keep pending federal financial assistance applications and payments moving under preserved proceedings while their students face tougher default collection.

Where it stands

H.R. 9609 was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 9, 2026, and on July 15, 2026 the Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup and ordered the bill reported as amended by a vote of 19 to 16. The record shows no written report filed and no calendar placement yet, and the provisions within the Committee on Energy and Commerce's jurisdiction remain before that committee.

Home School Graduation Recognition Act

Mark Harris (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would treat students who finish secondary school in a home school setting as high school graduates for federal student aid purposes. It modifies the Higher Education Act to include home-schooled students who are recognized as private schools under state law within the definition of a high school graduate. This bill makes home-schooled students count as high school graduates for federal student aid, giving home schooling providers recognized as private schools clearer access to postsecondary funding for their graduates and boosting enrollment at colleges and universities.

Where it stands

HR 6392 passed the House on March 3, 2026, and is currently pending in the Senate where it was read twice and placed on the Legislative Calendar under General Orders on March 17, 2026. The Senate companion bill S3747 is also on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as of March 11, 2026.

FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act

Tommy Tuberville (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Education to verify the social security number and citizenship status of any individual seeking Federal student aid. This verification process is to be conducted in cooperation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. This bill requires colleges, universities, and other schools and training providers' students seeking federal aid to have their social security numbers and citizenship status verified with the Social Security Administration, which can delay aid disbursement and enrollment when records do not match.

Where it stands

S4365 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on April 21, 2026, with no subsequent committee action recorded. The bill remains in the committee stage where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs.

State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act

Lisa Murkowski (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend federal higher education law to exempt education loan programs run by state agencies, state authorities, or nonprofit organizations from the preferred lender arrangement rules that apply to other private education lenders, as long as those state-based programs charge interest rates and fees at least as favorable as Federal Direct PLUS loans and borrowers are advised to exhaust federal loan options first. It would also require the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress within two years on trends in federal, state-based, institutional, and private student borrowing, including loan availability, interest rate differences, and borrower outcomes. This bill lets colleges and universities add qualifying state-based education loans to their preferred lender lists without federal penalties, and makes them subjects of a GAO study on student borrowing trends.

Where it stands

S. 4097 was ordered reported at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions markup on July 30, 2026 and was reported on August 4, 2026, the same day it was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 539. In the Senate, reporting itself places the bill on the calendar, and it is normal here that no written report is owed or expected.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act of 2025

Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would lower the credit hour and GPA thresholds for students to qualify for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. It would also prioritize students who have used the most educational assistance months and those declaring STEM majors, while requiring recipients to exhaust all other GI Bill benefits before using this scholarship. This bill brings more GI Bill veterans into the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship by lowering credit and GPA requirements, increasing funded STEM enrollments at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary education providers.

Where it stands

S3040 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on October 23, 2025, where it currently awaits action as no upcoming meetings are scheduled. The companion measure HR2034 was received in the Senate and referred to the same committee on September 16, 2025.

FAFSA Verification Efficiency Act

Tim Walberg (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Education to verify the social security numbers and citizenship status of individuals applying for federal student aid in cooperation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. This mandate applies to any individual required to provide this information to the Secretary for Federal student aid under specific sections of the Higher Education Act. This bill requires the Education Department to verify the Social Security numbers and citizenship status of applicants for federal student aid, affecting schools, colleges, and training providers whose students depend on that aid for enrollment.

Where it stands

HR 7893 was reported by the House Committee on Education and Workforce on July 2, 2026 and placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 635. This placement signifies eligibility for floor consideration but does not guarantee scheduling or leadership action.

More Nurses in Rural Schools Act

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would let nurses who take part in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program count a two-year stint as a school nurse at an elementary or secondary school in a health professional shortage area toward their required service, with part-time or part-year nurses required to work enough hours to match a full-year, full-time commitment. It would also require that at least 5 percent of the program's yearly funding go toward loan repayment for school nurses and waive certain assignment priorities for these participants. This bill lets nurses earn federal loan repayment by serving two years as school nurses at elementary or secondary schools in health professional shortage areas, and reserves at least 5 percent of program funding for such school nurse participants.

Where it stands

HR 10694, the More Nurses in Rural Schools Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 1, 2026 and has taken no further action in the record. The bill is at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether a hearing or a markup (the committee vote stage) is ever noticed.

Higher Education Grant Flexibility Act of 2026

Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would change federal Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and TEACH Grants so that students with disabilities who have an approved reduced course load as a reasonable accommodation would be treated as enrolled full-time for figuring their grant amounts, as long as they take their reduced load or at least 5 credits, whichever is greater. That deemed full-time status would raise the cost-of-attendance figures used to calculate these students' grants, though it could not be used to extend their number of Pell eligibility semesters. This bill requires colleges and universities to treat students with disabilities carrying an approved reduced course load as full time when calculating Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity, and TEACH Grants, raising those students' grant amounts and drawing from fixed campus grant pools.

Where it stands

S5626 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on September 30, 2026. It now sits with that committee, where most bills in this chamber stall, and no committee action is scheduled in the available calendar data.

School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2026

Tim Kaine (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would change the federal tax code so that spending to rehabilitate public school buildings qualifies for the existing rehabilitation tax credit, a break from which school buildings are currently shut out. It would also require the Treasury Department to report to Congress within five years on how many public school facilities were rehabilitated, how many students use them, and how much was spent, with the change applying to property placed in service after December 31, 2026. This bill lets spending to rehabilitate public school buildings qualify for the federal rehabilitation tax credit after 2026, helping school districts renovate facilities through privately financed projects while Treasury reports to Congress on how many schools and students benefit.

Where it stands

S5480 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance on September 23, 2026, where it now sits. Committee action is the ordinary route, but referral does not lock the bill in place, since unanimous consent, discharge, or use as an amendment can bypass the committee.