119th (2025–2027)
S. 1569
This bill modifies how accrediting agencies evaluate colleges and universities by prohibiting them from considering race, color, sex, or national origin in their accreditation standards and reviews. The legislation requires accreditors to recognize institutions' "free inquiry," defined as compliance with First Amendment protections and written policies on academic freedom for public schools and adherence to institutional policies on freedom of speech and religion for private schools. The bill carves out exemptions for religious institutions, including divinity schools and colleges explicitly controlled by religious organizations, which would not need to meet these free inquiry requirements. The bill also allows colleges to pursue civil action against accreditors if they face denial or loss of accreditation for violating these new prohibitions. The legislation does not appear to include specific funding or implementation timelines.