U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and James Lankford (R-OK) have introduced the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025. The bill aims to prevent discrimination against members of religious student organizations at colleges and universities. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI), chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
“We’ve seen college campuses become increasingly hostile towards religious freedom. Students should be able to practice their faith freely without discrimination,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill holds institutions accountable to protect student organizations and maintain a safe learning environment for all.”
“Freedom of religion, speech, and association are Constitutionally protected rights in every place in America, including America's campuses,” said Senator Lankford. “This bill makes clear that public colleges must grant religious student organizations the same rights as every other student group. At a time when our nation needs hope and unity, the ability to exercise your faith must be protected, not cast aside.”
"All too frequently, we hear about instances of students' free speech and free association being restricted on college campuses, especially due to their religious beliefs," said Chairman Walberg. "While the Trump administration and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting student liberties on campuses, we've seen other administrations try to undermine the foundational principle of academic freedom and the right to religious expression. Our legislation will ensure that future administrations cannot erode religious freedom and ideological diversity on college campuses."
The legislation has been co-sponsored by several Republican senators including Tim Scott (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jim Banks (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Kennedy (R-LA), and John Cornyn (R-TX).
The Equal Campus Access Act is supported by various national religious organizations such as the Christian Legal Society, Cru, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Islamic Society of North America, US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventist Church – North American Division, Coalition for Jewish Values, Religious Freedom Institute, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, National Association of Evangelicals, among others.
For more information or to read the full text of the bill visit this link.
