Legislative status and floor consideration
HR 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026, is currently active and moving toward a floor vote in the House of Representatives. On August 31, 2026, the House Rules Committee reported H. Res. 1499, a resolution establishing the terms for floor debate.
Under the proposed rule, the bill will be considered under a closed rule, which limits the ability to offer amendments on the floor. The resolution allocates one hour of general debate for the measure and permits a motion to recommit. This action follows the bill’s advancement through the House Committee on Education and Workforce, which reported the legislation with amendments on August 27, 2026 (H. Rept. 119-780). The committee previously ordered the bill to be reported by a vote of 24–9 on June 25, 2026.
Proposed requirements for higher education institutions
The bill introduces new compliance requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs or receive Title VI funding for foreign language and international education.
Boycott prohibitions: The legislation prohibits IHEs from engaging in commercial actions intended to limit relations with Israel, or with entities licensed or regulated by Israel, unless such actions are based on a valid business reason.
Certification requirements: Institutions receiving or applying for Title VI funds must provide an annual certification regarding academic exchange. Specifically, they must certify that students and faculty are permitted to participate in academic programs in Israel under the same terms as programs in other foreign countries. Additionally, they must certify that students and faculty from Israeli postsecondary institutions are granted equal access to the IHE’s own academic programs.
Legislative context and research data
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5) and has one recorded cosponsor, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). The legislation is categorized under the policy area of Education, with official subject terms including higher education, education programs funding, and government information and archives.
LawLinter data provides additional context regarding the bill’s structure and potential impact:
Statutory references: The bill’s text references several sections of the U.S. Code, including 20 U.S.C. 1094 and 20 U.S.C. 1121, which relate to institutional participation in federal student aid and international education programs.
Sector matching: The legislation is strongly aligned with the education sector, with 84 evidence matches identified in the bill’s text.
Budgetary impact: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a cost estimate for the bill on August 31, 2026, based on the version reported by the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Readers should note that while the bill has progressed through committee and is scheduled for floor consideration, the final legislative outcome remains subject to the upcoming House vote and subsequent action in the Senate.
