Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
Student Protection and University Accountability Act
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 700.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the Student Protection and University Accountability Act, aims to make colleges and universities more transparent when handling civil rights complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under the bill, schools must clearly explain their investigative processes, provide specific timelines and notices to people who file complaints, and keep proper records of these actions. If a school fails to follow these rules for two years in a row, it will lose its eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to give regular briefings to Congress and prevents them from dismissing or delaying certain investigations simply because other complaints were filed elsewhere.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires universities to maintain clear public investigative processes and mandates regular congressional briefings from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
Students gain stronger transparency, prompt communications on complaints, and robust federal oversight regarding civil rights violations.
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill mandates timely notifications, transparent investigative guidelines, and structured record-keeping for civil rights complaints on campuses.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2: Students and families benefit because colleges are required to clearly publish and distribute their investigative processes for Title VI complaints, ensuring people know how their concerns will be handled.
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Section 2: Complainants benefit by receiving timely updates, specifically being notified within 30 days of whether an investigation is opened, why it was or was not opened, and being informed of the outcome within 30 days of it being reached.
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Section 2: Individuals reporting discrimination benefit because schools must provide clear contact information and steps for reporting complaints both to the school and directly to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
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Section 3: The public and victims of discrimination benefit from increased oversight, as the Office for Civil Rights is prohibited from dismissing or delaying investigations just because another complaint was filed with a local, state, or federal agency or court, ensuring complaints are properly addressed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2: Schools face a heavy burden because failing to comply with these transparency and compliance rules for two consecutive years results in losing federal student financial aid program eligibility for at least two years.
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 students be better off under this? — Students gain stronger transparency, prompt communications on complaints, and robust federal oversight regarding civil rights violations. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill strengthens Title VI protections against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in higher education. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill strengthens Title VI protections against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in higher education. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill strengthens Title VI protections against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in higher education. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill protects individuals against national origin discrimination under Title VI compliance provisions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill strengthens Title VI protections against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in higher education. Would white Americans be better off under this? — The bill protects all students equally under Title VI provisions against discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — College students benefit from clearer reporting guidelines and timely updates when filing discrimination complaints.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires universities to maintain clear public investigative processes and mandates regular congressional briefings from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill mandates timely notifications, transparent investigative guidelines, and structured record-keeping for civil rights complaints on campuses. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight by tying university federal student aid participation to strict compliance and reporting requirements.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill enhances transparency and accountability for Title VI civil rights complaints regarding race, color, and national origin at universities.
- 9/8/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-800.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 700.
- 6/25/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/8/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Laura GillenDemocrat · New York