Colleges must fund substance-abuse recovery; students gain access to treatment.
H.R. 7019 — Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2026 · Filed by Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 12, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal higher education law to require colleges and universities to adopt evidence-based programs to prevent alcohol and substance misuse among students and employees, and to provide recovery support services. It authorizes $15 million annually for six years to fund prevention, treatment referral, peer support, and crisis intervention programs on campuses, and requires the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services to develop best practices and guidance.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a regulatory requirement (colleges must adopt evidence-based substance misuse prevention and recovery programs) paired with federal grant funding to offset compliance costs. It is a public-health measure, not a tax provision, subsidy to private parties, or commemorative act.
What the text implies
- Colleges that fail to implement accessible prevention programs risk losing federal student aid eligibility under Title IV, creating powerful enforcement leverage without explicit penalty language.
- The shift from 'illicit drugs and alcohol abuse' to 'alcohol and substance misuse' and inclusion of overdose data reporting may expand institutional liability and reporting obligations beyond current practice.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
colleges and universities (federal grant funding for prevention and recovery programs); community-based organizations and collegiate recovery programs (eligible for contracts under amended