H.R. 5505House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Equal Campus Access Act of 2026

Introduced September 18, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 17, 2026 at 12:22 PM UTC

The Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public colleges and universities to treat religious student organizations the same as other student groups. It bars the use of federal higher‑education funds for any public institution that denies a religious group access to facilities, official recognition, or other benefits because of its religious beliefs or practices. The bill mainly affects public institutions of higher education and religious student groups on those campuses.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new section to the Higher Education Act stating that no federal funds may go to a public college that refuses a religious student organization any right, benefit, or privilege given to other student groups.
  • Specifically protects access to campus facilities and official recognition for religious student groups, prohibiting discrimination based on the group's religious beliefs, speech, leadership standards, or conduct standards.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 730.

September 16, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 18, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

September 18, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

June 25, 2026

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.

June 25, 2026

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-833.

September 16, 2026

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 730.

September 16, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued September 16, 2026

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Union Calendar No. 730

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5505

[Report No. 119–833]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 18, 2025

Mr. Walberg (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Moran, Mr. Aderholt, and Mr. Onder) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

September 16, 2026

Additional sponsors: Ms. Letlow, Mr. Harris of North Carolina, Mr. Messmer, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Bost, and Mr. Clyde

September 16, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 18, 2025


A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.


1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equal Campus Access Act of 2026.

2.

Campus access for religious student groups

Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

124.

Campus access for religious student groups

None of the funds made available under this Act may be provided to any public institution of higher education that denies to a religious student organization any right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other student organizations at the institution (including full access to the facilities of the institution and official recognition of the organization by the institution) because of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct of the religious student organization.

.

September 16, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed