A Democratic bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors · See all 11 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
The Protecting Student Privacy Act seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. This bill aims to ensure that personally identifiable information provided in Federal student aid applications is not used for immigration enforcement. It prohibits sharing this information with the Department of Homeland Security or other agencies with immigration enforcement authority. There are specific exceptions for court orders related to criminal offenses or when an individual provides express consent. The bill also includes a prohibition on using coercion to obtain such consent.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +8
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The bill explicitly prohibits the use of Federal student aid information for immigration enforcement purposes, thereby strengthening personal privacy.
- Scored +7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill restricts the use of student aid information for immigration enforcement, providing greater security for immigrants.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
The bill protects the sensitive personal and financial information that students must provide to access federal aid.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Privacy: The bill prohibits Federal student aid information from being shared with the Department of Homeland Security or local agencies for immigration enforcement purposes, which protects the personally identifiable information of students and contributors (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Prevention of Coercion: The bill ensures that individuals cannot be pressured or coerced into consenting to the disclosure of their financial or personal information to immigration agencies (Section 2(b)(2) and Section 2(c)).
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Accountability for Information Breaches: If the Secretary of Education learns of a disclosure that violates these rules, they must report the circumstances and the nature of the information to Congress (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exceptions for Criminal Activity: The privacy protections do not apply if a court order is issued in connection with a Federal or State criminal offense allegedly committed by the student (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Voluntary Disclosure: The protections do not apply if a student or contributor individual voluntarily and expressly consents to the disclosure of their information to an immigration agency (Section 2(b)(2)).
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 immigrants be better off under this? — The bill restricts the use of student aid information for immigration enforcement, providing greater security for immigrants. Would students be better off under this? — The bill protects the sensitive personal and financial information that students must provide to access federal aid. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides specific privacy protections against immigration enforcement that disproportionately affect Hispanic communities. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill protects the privacy of students seeking financial aid, which predominantly impacts young adults. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects information provided on federal student aid applications, which are frequently used by low-income households.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill explicitly prohibits the use of Federal student aid information for immigration enforcement purposes, thereby strengthening personal privacy. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary of Education to report any unauthorized disclosures of student aid information to Congress.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill protects personal data from being used for immigration enforcement, which provides a layer of security for those navigating the immigration system.
- Education And Technology
- Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — By protecting student aid information from immigration enforcement, the bill reduces the personal risks associated with applying for federal aid.
- 10/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/20/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Greg CasarDemocrat · Texas
Suzan DelBeneDemocrat · Washington
Dwight EvansDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
John LarsonDemocrat · Connecticut
Sam LiccardoDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia