H.R. 2555 · On the floor · Education

Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2026

What it does

Establish freedom of association protections for college students to form or join single-sex social organizations.
Prohibit institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs from taking adverse actions against single-sex social organizations or their members based solely on sex-based membership policies.
Prevent IHEs from requiring or coercing members or prospective members of single-sex organizations to waive protections under the bill as a condition of enrollment.
Restrict IHEs from imposing recruitment restrictions on single-sex organizations unless the organization and IHE have a written agreement allowing such restrictions.

Official summary

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.

Latest action

Aug 27, 2026: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 682.

Committee: House Education and Workforce