Equal Campus Access Act of 2025
This bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Sep 18, 2025
Last action Mar 19, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
upper
Sep 18, 2025
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6732-6734)
upper
Sep 18, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 30 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
James Lankford
RRepublican
Co
Bill Cassidy
RRepublican
Co
Chuck Grassley
RRepublican
Co
Cindy Hyde-Smith
RRepublican
Co
Cynthia M. Lummis
RRepublican
Co
James C. Justice
RRepublican
Co
James E. Risch
RRepublican
Co
Jim Banks
RRepublican
Co
John Cornyn
RRepublican
Co
John Hoeven
RRepublican
Co
John Kennedy
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about S 2859
Scope: US
Hi! I can help you understand S 2859. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline