Overview
Title
To prohibit the award of Federal funds to an institution of higher education that hosts or is affiliated with a student-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to students of the institution or to employees of the institution or site, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill says colleges won't get money from the government if they help students or workers get medicine or surgeries that stop a pregnancy. The colleges have to prove each year they don’t do this to keep getting money.
Summary AI
S. 207 aims to stop federal funding for colleges that have student service sites providing abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. The bill mandates that such institutions must submit annual reports proving they don't offer these services to maintain eligibility for federal funds. The legislation includes definitions for key terms like "abortion drug" and "school-based service site" and ensures that compliance with this federal law doesn't conflict with state laws.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" was introduced in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines and backed by several other senators. Its primary intent is to prohibit federal funding to higher education institutions that provide abortion services or medications through student-based service sites. This prohibition applies to direct funding and indirectly through contracts. The bill mandates that institutions submit annual reports certifying compliance with these rules, effectively barring them from offering such reproductive health services if they wish to continue receiving federal financial support.
Summary of Significant Issues
There are several key issues associated with this bill:
Access to Reproductive Health Services: The bill could significantly limit students' and employees' access to comprehensive reproductive health services at college campuses. This might include the loss of services such as abortion medications or procedures which are currently available through campus health clinics.
Administrative and Financial Burden: Higher education institutions will need to submit annual compliance reports, which might strain resources and increase administrative costs, particularly for those managing multiple service sites.
Federal and State Law Conflicts: The bill introduces potential conflicts between federal and state laws since it preempts state penalties for federally compliant institutions. This discrepancy could lead to legal confusion for those institutions managing compliance with differing legislative requirements.
Definition and Interpretation Challenges: The bill's definition of "abortion drug" might lead to varied interpretations, potentially resulting in legal challenges and problems with practical implementation. Furthermore, the references to other laws may require institutions to interpret and navigate complex legal texts, posing additional challenges.
Broad Public Impact
The bill has the potential to reshape access to reproductive healthcare on college campuses across the United States. If passed, it could lead to diminished access to certain health services for students and employees by financially penalizing institutions for offering them. This change could stir significant public debate on reproductive rights, potentially influencing public opinion and voter sentiment on both state and national levels.
Impact on Stakeholders
Students and Employees: The group most directly affected includes students and employees reliant on campus health services for reproductive health. The bill could limit their access to necessary medical services, potentially leaving them with fewer options and increased out-of-pocket expenses should these services become unavailable at their institutions.
Higher Education Institutions: Colleges and universities may face increased administrative burdens and financial constraints due to compliance requirements. This could divert resources from other educational priorities or force institutions to make difficult choices about the services they provide.
State Governments: There could be tension between state governments and federally funded institutions, especially in states with laws supporting broader access to reproductive services. This may lead to legal battles or require states to reconsider their policies in light of federal regulations.
Overall, the "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" could drive significant policy changes regarding reproductive health on campuses, posing social, legal, and financial impacts for multiple stakeholders involved.
Issues
The prohibition on awarding federal funds to institutions of higher education that are affiliated with service sites providing abortions may significantly impact access to comprehensive reproductive health services for students and employees, as stated in Section 2(a). This could lead to legal and political disputes over reproductive rights on college campuses.
The requirement outlined in Section 2(b) for institutions to submit annual reports to certify compliance with the prohibition on providing abortion drugs or procedures could create a significant administrative burden. This could lead to increased operational costs and resource allocation issues for institutions, especially those affiliated with multiple service sites.
The language in Section 2(c) regarding preemption could create conflicts between federal and state laws, specifically if a state's laws differ from federal regulations. This might cause legal confusion for institutions due to differing penalties imposed by each jurisdiction.
The definition of 'abortion drug' in Section 2(d)(1) may lead to varying interpretations, potentially resulting in implementation challenges or legal disputes given differing state laws and public opinions on what constitutes an abortion.
The complexity introduced by references to other laws, such as in Section 2(d)(2) and Section 2(d)(3), requires institutions to navigate multiple legal texts. This complicates understanding and compliance, as institutions may struggle to interpret cross-referenced laws such as the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Social Security Act.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act gives it its official name, stating that it will be called the “Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025.”
2. Prohibition on award of funds to certain institutions of higher education Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section prohibits any college or university that provides abortion drugs or performs abortions from receiving federal funding, either directly or indirectly, including through contracts. To continue receiving federal funds, these institutions must annually report to the government, certifying that they comply with this rule. Institutions following these rules won't face state penalties, and specific terms like "abortion drug," "institution of higher education," and "school-based service site" are clearly defined.