H.R. 2899 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Apr 10, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects students from higher education financial practices
This bill gives the Department of Education the power to enforce rules designed to protect college students and borrowers from unfair financial practices. It requires colleges that accept federal student aid to spend at least 30% of tuition money on actual instruction, prevents schools from blocking students from suing them or withholding transcripts over unpaid balances, and sets up new ways for the department to track complaints and investigate problems at colleges, loan servicers, and third-party education companies.
How it affects you
If you're a current or prospective college student or have federal student loans, this bill is meant to protect you. You'd have more legal rights if your school treats you unfairly, and colleges would have clearer rules about how they spend your tuition money. The bill also creates new oversight so the Department of Education can respond faster to complaints about schools or loan servicers that may be taking advantage of students.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 10, 2025)
Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025 or the PROTECT Students Act of 2025
This bill sets forth provisions to address financial predatory practices in higher education, including by establishing additional protections for students and student loan borrowers.
Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for Department of Education (ED) regulations related to gainful employment, borrower defense to repayment, and closed school discharges. For example, ED's 2023 gainful employment regulations specify that ED considers a career education program to be preparing students for gainful employment if it meets specified debt-to-earnings or earnings premium measures.
Additionally, the bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from taking specified actions, such as (1) restricting students' ability to pursue claims against IHEs in court, and (2) withholding official transcripts because of a balance owed by the student.
The bill requires IHEs to spend at least 30% of their tuition and fee revenue on instruction.
The bill also includes additional oversight measures, such as
• providing statutory authority for an enforcement unit within ED's Office of Federal Student Aid to assess complaints against IHEs, third-party servicers, and student loan servicers;
• establishing the For-Profit Education Oversight Coordination Committee within the executive branch; and
• requiring ED to establish and operate a system that tracks complaints or reports of suspicious activity by IHEs, third-party servicers, and student loan servicers.
The bill makes funding available to ED for the administrative costs of operating student aid programs.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2899
A BILL
PROTECT Students Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39) · Introduced Apr 10, 2025 · Education · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 10, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”
Sections
Title I — Student and taxpayer protections · 5
Title II — Ensuring integrity at institutions of higher education and institutional contractors · 5
Title III — Improving oversight · 7
- Sec. 301Enforcement in the Office of Federal Student AidNo change
- Sec. 302For-Profit Education Oversight Coordination CommitteeNo change
- Sec. 303Establishment and maintenance of complaint resolution and tracking systemNo change
- Sec. 304Reforms to eligibility and certification proceduresNo change
- Sec. 305State oversightNo change
- Sec. 306Accrediting agency oversightNo change
- Sec. 307Mandatory spending for administrative costs of operating the student aid programsNo change