WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 2555 · 119th Congress

Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2026

Reported by committeeEducation
IntroducedApr 1, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Reported by committee. Latest step, Aug 27, 2026: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 682.

What it does

Sourced

Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025

This bill establishes freedom of association protections for college students in single-sex social organizations.

Specifically, the bill gives students (or groups of students) enrolled at institutions of higher education (IHEs) the right to form or join social organizations, including single-sex social organizations.

Additionally, the bill prohibits IHEs that participate in federal student aid programs from

• taking adverse actions against single-sex social organizations or students who are members or prospective members of such organizations based solely on the practice of limiting membership to only individuals of one sex;

• taking actions that require or coerce members or prospective members of such organizations to waive protections provided under the bill, including as a condition of enrolling in the IHE; or

• imposing a recruitment restriction on a single-sex social organization that is not imposed upon other student organizations, unless the organization and IHE have entered into a written agreement allowing the restriction.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Apr 1, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Aug 27, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-781.Library of Congress
  2. Apr 1, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 8 recorded actions

Cosponsors

  • Alma S. Adams D-NC-12
  • Stephanie I. Bice R-OK-5
  • Tim Burchett R-TN-2
  • Mike Carey R-OH-15
  • Sharice Davids D-KS-3
  • Randy Fine R-FL-6
  • Virginia Foxx R-NC-5
  • Russell Fry R-SC-7
  • Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
  • Adelita S. Grijalva D-AZ-7
  • Glenn Grothman R-WI-6
  • Michael Guest R-MS-3
Show 31 more cosponsors
  • Abraham J. Hamadeh R-AZ-8
  • Mark Harris R-NC-8
  • J. French Hill R-AR-2
  • Ashley Hinson R-IA-2
  • Richard Hudson R-NC-9
  • Dusty Johnson R-SD-At Large
  • Jennifer A. Kiggans R-VA-2
  • Nick LaLota R-NY-1
  • Tracey Mann R-KS-1
  • Lucy McBath D-GA-6
  • April McClain Delaney D-MD-6
  • Blake D. Moore R-UT-1
  • Dan Newhouse R-WA-4
  • Ralph Norman R-SC-5
  • Mike Rogers R-AL-3
  • John W. Rose R-TN-6
  • Derek Schmidt R-KS-2
  • Austin Scott R-GA-8
  • Pete Sessions R-TX-17
  • Jefferson Shreve R-IN-6
  • Elise M. Stefanik R-NY-21
  • W. Gregory Steube R-FL-17
  • David J. Taylor R-OH-2
  • Claudia Tenney R-NY-24
  • Glenn Thompson R-PA-15
  • Beth Van Duyne R-TX-24
  • Derrick Van Orden R-WI-3
  • James R. Walkinshaw D-VA-11
  • Roger Williams R-TX-25
  • Frederica S. Wilson D-FL-24
  • Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1