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H.R. 5486: Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025

This bill, referred to as the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025, aims to strengthen the measures against harassment in institutions of higher education in the United States. Below is a summary of its main provisions:

1. Campus Security and Harassment Policy

The bill mandates that all higher education institutions receiving federal funding must develop and distribute a policy regarding harassment based on various characteristics such as race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, and religion. This includes:

Prohibitions against harassment by students, faculty, and staff in various settings, including on-campus, off-campus, and during school-sponsored events.
A detailed plan on how the institution handles harassment incidents, including reporting procedures and support services for victims and accused individuals.
Timely institutional actions in harassment cases and communication to involved parties regarding the outcome.

2. Anti-Harassment Competitive Grant Program

The bill establishes a competitive grant program managed by the Secretary of Education to provide funding for initiatives aimed at preventing harassment in higher education settings. Key points include:

Eligible entities for grants include institutions of higher education and partnerships between these institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Grant funds must be utilized for activities such as improving anti-harassment programs, providing counseling services, and training on harassment recognition and prevention.
Grants will have a maximum duration of three years, with a possible two-year renewal.

3. Reporting and Evaluation

Institutions receiving grants are required to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and provide reports to the Secretary of Education, who, in turn, will report to Congress about the number of entities supported and the successes of the anti-harassment initiatives.

4. Financial Provisions

The bill authorizes appropriations of $50 million annually from fiscal year 2026 to 2031 for the implementation of these initiatives.

5. Interaction with Other Laws

The legislation clarifies that its provisions do not limit rights or remedies available under existing federal or state laws regarding civil rights and education.