Bars political tests in college accreditation and public college admissions and hiring

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

✎ Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Before passing this bill, the House replaced its text with a broader package that combined new rules for college accrediting agencies with campus free speech requirements.^2,3 Accrediting agencies, whose approval colleges need to take part in federal student aid programs, could not require or pressure schools to support or oppose particular political, social or ideological views, or to support treating people differently based on traits protected by federal civil rights law, and could not bar religious schools from requiring statements of faith.^2,3,4 Public colleges in federal student aid programs could not use political tests, such as required statements supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, in admissions, hiring, promotion or tenure, and would have to allow lawful expressive activity such as protests and leafleting in generally accessible campus areas, subject only to limited time, place and manner rules.³ It would also require colleges to disclose their speech policies, require public colleges to give religious student groups the same access as other groups, bar colleges from penalizing students for joining single-sex groups such as fraternities and sororities, and let people harmed by violations sue public colleges, which could lose federal student aid eligibility if they did not report and correct a violation found by a court.³

§2Status

§3How Congress voted

Why this matters: The official count.