Bill · S. 2026· Senate(119-S-2026)
Court Legal Access and Student Support Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/11/2025
- Last activity
- 6/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S3348)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The CLASS Act of 2025 aims to change how students handle legal disputes with colleges. It specifies that chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code regarding arbitration agreements will not apply to enrollment agreements. This includes contracts where students make a financial commitment for a program of study. Additionally, the bill would prevent institutions of higher education from requiring students to agree to restrictions on their ability to pursue claims in court. This includes restrictions on jury trials, venue, or choice of law.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would students be better off under this?+8
The bill directly benefits students by ensuring they can seek justice in court rather than through mandatory arbitration.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+7
The bill preserves due process rights by allowing students to access the court system instead of mandatory arbitration.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+6
The bill enhances consumer protection by preventing colleges from forcing students into mandatory arbitration.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
Higher education institutions may face increased litigation risks and costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased ability to pursue legal claims: By amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, the bill ensures institutions cannot require students to agree to limitations or restrictions on their ability to pursue a claim in court, whether individually or with others (Section 3).
-
Protection of legal rights: The bill prohibits institutions from enforcing restrictions on a student's choice of law, jury trial, or venue (Section 3).
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Removal of arbitration mandates: Chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code, which relates to the enforcement of arbitration agreements, would no longer apply to enrollment agreements between students and institutions of higher education (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+8Good For Young Adults+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Business Owners-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+7Increases Federal Power+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+6
- 6/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S3348)
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts