Bill shields single-sex college clubs from diversity enforcement

What it does

This bill amends federal higher education law to protect students' right to join, form, and participate in single-sex social organizations (fraternities, sororities, and similar clubs) without institutional retaliation. It bars colleges that receive federal funding from punishing students or organizations based on single-sex membership practices, though it permits discipline for misconduct, illegal activity, or (at religious institutions) incompatibility with religious mission. The bill defines 'sex' biologically and creates a detailed list of prohibited 'adverse actions' ranging from expulsion to denial of housing or employment letters.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a prohibition on institutional retaliation against students and organizations based on single-sex membership, framed as a freedom-of-association protection. It is substantively a carve-out from institutional authority to enforce diversity or non-discrimination policies tied to membership composition.

What the text implies

• The bill's definition of 'sex' as biological reproductive capacity may conflict with Title IX's evolving interpretation of sex discrimination to include gender identity, creating legal uncertainty for institutions navigating both statutes.
• By prohibiting institutions from imposing recruitment restrictions on single-sex organizations unless mutually agreed in writing, the bill may limit colleges' ability to enforce anti-hazing or safety protocols that apply uniformly to all student organizations.
• The broad definition of 'adverse action' includes denial of employment letters and certifications—meaning institutions cannot condition professional endorsements on non-discrimination compliance, potentially shielding organizations from reputational consequences.
• The bill protects unrecognized single-sex organizations from institutional action, creating a parallel governance structure where students can participate in organizations outside institutional oversight while retaining access to campus resources and protections.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill protects associational freedom for students in single-sex organizations—a genuine civil liberty—but simultaneously shields those organizations from institutional accountability for exclusionary practices, and may constrain colleges' ability to enforce non-discrimination policies or diversity commitments. The trade-off between associational liberty and equal access/inclusion is real and contested.

Named in the bill

institutions of higher education, single-sex social organizations, fraternities and sororities, Title IV federal student aid programs, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)

Where it stands

43 cosponsors: 35 Republicans, 8 Democrats.

• Apr 1, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 1, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce”
• Jun 25, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 25, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 6 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $165,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 3 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Erin Houchin, the sponsor, reported $1,063,750 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Fraternal Government Relations Coalition — $60,000 on 2 filings
• Alliance Defending Freedom — $40,000 on 1 filing
• National Panhellenic Conference — $30,000 on 1 filing
• North American Interfraternity Conference — $20,000 on 1 filing
• Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (fire) — $15,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.