Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Title IX Take Responsibility Act of 2026. It amends Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to establish specific standards of liability for educational institutions regarding sexual harassment. The legislation addresses how schools are held accountable when employees, agents, or others engage in sex-based harassment against individuals participating in education programs. It sets rules for when a covered entity is considered liable for sex discrimination based on what its employees or agents knew or should have known. Additionally, the bill allows aggrieved individuals to bring civil actions in court to enforce their rights and recover legal relief, including damages and attorney's fees.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
Women and girls, who statistically experience higher rates of sexual harassment and assault in education, receive significantly stronger legal protections and remedies.
- Scored +8
Would LGBTQ people be better off under this?
The bill directly addresses the high prevalence of harassment and non-consensual sexual experiences reported by LGBTQ+ young people.
- Scored +8
Would students be better off under this?
Students across K-12 and higher education gain robust protections, mandatory supportive measures, and the ability to sue for damages when schools fail to address harassment.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(a) establishes that if an agent or employee of a covered entity engages in sex-based harassment enabled by their authority, the school is directly liable for sex discrimination. This is positive because it holds officials accountable and protects students from staff members who abuse their power.
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Section 3(a) requires schools to exercise reasonable care, provide supportive measures to restore a victim's equal access to education, and take immediate corrective action once they know about harassment. This is a benefit to students because it ensures schools must actively protect victims and stop hostile environments, regardless of whether the victim experienced subsequent harassment.
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Section 3(b) and Section 3(c) allow any person aggrieved by a covered entity's failure to comply with Title IX to bring a civil action in court and recover legal relief, including compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees. This is beneficial for individuals seeking justice because it removes previous legal roadblocks and gives victims a clear path to hold schools financially accountable in court.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3(a) specifies that schools can be held liable for harassment committed by non-employees or by employees whose actions were not enabled by their official authority, provided the school knew or should have known about it and failed to exercise reasonable care to prevent or correct it. While intended to protect victims, schools might argue this places a heavy burden on them to monitor all behavior or face lawsuits, potentially leading to defensive administrative hurdles for students and staff.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — The bill directly addresses the high prevalence of harassment and non-consensual sexual experiences reported by LGBTQ+ young people. Would students be better off under this? — Students across K-12 and higher education gain robust protections, mandatory supportive measures, and the ability to sue for damages when schools fail to address harassment. Would women be better off under this? — Women and girls, who statistically experience higher rates of sexual harassment and assault in education, receive significantly stronger legal protections and remedies. Would children be better off under this? — The legislation protects K-12 students from sex-based harassment and holds schools accountable for maintaining safe environments. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — College and university students benefit from expanded liability rules and private right of action for sex-based harassment. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses the disproportionate impact of sexual harassment on Black students and provides enhanced protections. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Hispanic students, particularly Latina girls who face higher risks of harassment, benefit from stronger enforcement mechanisms. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation acknowledges and seeks to mitigate heightened rates of sexual violence experienced by Native American students. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Disabled students are specifically recognized in the bill's findings as a vulnerable group benefiting from enhanced Title IX enforcement.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — By strengthening Title IX standards and liability for sex-based harassment, the bill significantly advances protections and legal recourse for women and girls in educational settings. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The legislation recognizes and incorporates protections for disabled students who experience disproportionate rates of harassment in educational programs. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill explicitly aims to address and provide legal remedies for heightened rates of sexual harassment experienced by historically marginalized groups, including students of color.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The legislation provides victims of sex-based discrimination with a clear statutory path to bring civil actions and recover legal relief in court. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes federal statutory standards for institutional liability under Title IX, increasing federal oversight of educational entities.
- 11/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut