H.R. 2555: Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025
Sponsor
Erin Houchin
Republican · IN-9
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Apr 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why it matters
Introduced on 2025-04-01 with 17 cosponsors, HR 2555 would sharply limit what colleges that receive Title IV or Higher Education Act funds can do to students tied to single-sex fraternities, sororities, and similar clubs.
At the same time, the bill draws limits. Colleges would not be required to officially recognize any social organization. They could still act against students or organizations for academic or nonacademic misconduct, or when an organization’s purpose poses "clear harm" to students or employees, as long as the action is not based solely on the group’s single-sex membership practice. The bill also protects organizations’ control over their own membership, preserves faculty members’ academic freedom to speak or write critically about these groups, and says it creates no enforceable right to force a group or a college to admit any particular student.
What does H.R. 2555 do?
New Higher Education Act section 124
HR 2555 would amend Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq., by adding a new section 124. That new section would apply to institutions of higher education that receive Title IV funds or other funds under the Act.
Bars waivers as condition of enrollment
A college receiving Title IV or Act funds could not require or coerce a student or prospective student to waive the bill’s protections in order to enroll. This matters at the front end of admissions and enrollment, not just after a student is already on campus.
Protects joining recognized or unrecognized groups
Students would have a federal right to form or apply to join any recognized or unrecognized social organization, including a single-sex organization, and to join and participate if selected for membership. The protection is not limited to officially recognized campus groups.
Defines 'adverse action' in 10 parts
The bill’s definition of "adverse action" runs from subparagraphs (A) through (J). It includes expulsion, suspension, probation, censure, condemnation, formal reprimand, oral or written warnings, denial of scholarships or on-campus employment, denial of access to on-campus housing, denial of letters of recommendation, withdrawal of official recognition, and even requiring a student to certify they are not a member of a single-sex social organization.
Covers 501(c) fraternities, sororities, off-campus clubs
A "single-sex social organization" includes a social fraternity or sorority described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt under section 501(a), as well as historically single-sex organizations whose active membership is mainly students or alumni. It also includes a single-sex private social club, including an independent organization located off-campus, if it consists primarily of students or alumni of an institution of higher education.
Allows discipline for misconduct or 'clear harm'
The bill does not force schools to recognize any organization, and it still lets them take action for academic misconduct, nonacademic misconduct, or if an organization’s purpose poses "clear harm" to students or employees. But the school cannot base that action solely on the organization’s single-sex membership practice.
Who benefits from H.R. 2555?
Students in fraternities and sororities
They gain protection from a wide list of campus penalties, including suspension, loss of scholarships, denial of on-campus housing, blocked leadership roles, and withheld letters of recommendation, if the reason is solely their membership in a single-sex social organization.
Students seeking to join single-sex groups
They would be protected even before joining, because the bill covers the right to form or apply to join recognized or unrecognized organizations and bars colleges from coercing waivers as a condition of enrollment.
Historically single-sex off-campus social clubs
Independent off-campus clubs made up primarily of students or alumni could benefit because the statutory definition explicitly includes a single-sex private social club located off-campus.
Single-sex organizations themselves
Organizations would benefit because colleges could not withdraw official recognition or impose special recruitment restrictions, including scheduling limits, unless there is a mutually agreed-upon written agreement between the organization or its council and the institution.
Who is affected by H.R. 2555?
Colleges and universities receiving Title IV funds
These schools would face new federal limits on discipline, housing decisions, scholarship access, recognition decisions, and recruitment rules involving single-sex social organizations under the new section 124.
Campus administrators and student affairs offices
They would need to review policies because "adverse action" is defined very broadly in 10 subparts, including oral warnings, recommendation letters, on-campus employment, and demands that students disclose membership.
Students outside single-sex organizations
They could see campus rules become more uniform, because the bill says recognized single-sex organizations cannot face recruitment restrictions that are not also imposed on other student organizations, unless both sides sign a written agreement.
Faculty members
Faculty are affected, though protected, because the bill expressly preserves academic freedom to express opinions, research, write, or publish on single-sex social organization membership.
H.R. 2555 Common Questions
Can a college deny scholarships or on-campus jobs because I'm in a fraternity or sorority?
No. Under the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, denying scholarships, on-campus employment, or graduate fellowships because of single-sex membership would be an "adverse action" (SEC. 3(d)).
Can a college make students certify they are not in a single-sex fraternity or sorority?
No. According to HR 2555 SEC. 3(d), requiring a student to certify non-membership in, or disclose membership in, a single-sex social organization counts as prohibited adverse action.
Does HR 2555 protect off-campus fraternities and private social clubs?
Yes. Under HR 2555 SEC. 3(d), a "single-sex social organization" includes off-campus independent private social clubs made up primarily of students or alumni, not just recognized campus groups.
Can a university block recruitment events for sororities or fraternities but not other student groups?
Generally no. Under the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, schools cannot impose recruitment restrictions, including scheduling limits, on recognized single-sex groups unless other student groups face the same rules or there is a mutually agreed written agreement (SEC. 3).
Can a college deny campus housing because a student joined a single-sex organization?
No. According to HR 2555 SEC. 3(d), denying or restricting access to on-campus housing because of membership in a single-sex social organization is listed as an adverse action.
Can colleges force applicants to waive fraternity or sorority rights to enroll?
No. Under the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, an institution receiving Higher Education Act funds may not require or coerce a student or prospective student to waive these protections as a condition of enrollment (SEC. 3).
Does the bill protect students who join unrecognized fraternities or sororities?
Yes. Under HR 2555 SEC. 3, students would have the right to form or apply to join any recognized or unrecognized social organization, including single-sex organizations, and to participate if selected.
Can a college withdraw recognition from a fraternity solely because it is single-sex?
No. According to HR 2555 SEC. 3(d), withdrawal of official recognition is an adverse action, so a school could not do that based solely on the group's single-sex membership practice.
Is a college required to officially recognize fraternities or sororities under HR 2555?
No. The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 says institutions are not required to officially recognize any social organization (SEC. 3).
Can colleges still discipline fraternities or sororities for misconduct under HR 2555?
Yes. Under the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, schools may still take action for academic misconduct, nonacademic misconduct, or when an organization's purpose poses clear harm, as long as the action is not based solely on single-sex membership (SEC. 3).
Based on H.R. 2555 bill text
HR2555 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Apr 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Erin Houchin
Republican, Indiana's 9th congressional district · 3 years in Congress
Committees: Rules, the Budget, Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (17)
This bill has 17 cosponsors: 3 Democrats, 14 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 13 more.
Robert Garcia
Democrat · CA
Tracey Mann
Republican · KS
Dusty Johnson
Republican · SD
Mike Carey
Republican · OH
Glenn Grothman
Republican · WI
Abraham Hamadeh
Republican · AZ
Russell Fry
Republican · SC
Ashley Hinson
Republican · IA
Blake Moore
Republican · UT
James Walkinshaw
Democrat · VA
Mike Rogers
Republican · AL
Richard Hudson
Republican · NC
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
2 of 35 committee members cosponsored
18 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 2555 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Apr 1, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Apr 1, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with text, status, cosponsors, and committee actions for the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025.
The bill amends Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965, so the compiled federal statute is a core source for the underlying law.
HR 2555 applies to institutions that receive funds under the Higher Education Act, including participation in Title IV student aid programs.
Section 3(d)(1)(J) of the bill refers to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1681 and following.
Campus sex-discrimination enforcement and Title IX compliance are administered through the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Because the bill bars adverse actions involving scholarships and campus employment at Title IV institutions, the federal student aid eligibility framework is relevant context.
H.R. 2555 Bill Text
“To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for certain freedom of association protections, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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