U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB2859: Equal Campus Access Act of 2025
Status: In committee, March 19, 2026
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.
What the bill says
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.
From the introduced text, 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. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 . SECTION 2. Campus access for religious 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: SECTION 124. Campus access for religious 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. .
Sponsors
- Lankford, James (R, SD-OK) · primary sponsor
- Scott, Tim (R)
- Cassidy, Bill (R)
- Scott, Rick (R)
- Cramer, Kevin (R)
- Hawley, Josh (R, SD-MO)
- Grassley, Chuck (R, SD-IA)
- Lummis, Cynthia (R)
- Hyde-Smith, Cindy (R)
- Cruz, Ted (R)
- Cotton, Tom (R, SD-AR)
- Budd, Ted (R)
Latest actions
- : Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6732-6734)
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Education programs funding, Education, School administration, Higher education, Religion
Common questions
- What is SB2859?
- SB2859 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Equal Campus Access Act of 2025.
- What does SB2859 do?
- In its own words: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.
- What is the status of SB2859?
- In committee as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. (March 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB2859?
- Lankford, James (R, SD-OK), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB2859?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2859
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.