H.R.3938 - Court Legal Access and Student Support Act of 2025; CLASS Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3938, the CLASS Act of 2025, aims to protect students from certain enrollment agreement clauses. Specifically, it prevents the enforcement of mandatory arbitration agreements and limitations on students' ability to pursue claims against institutions of higher education. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions from restricting students' legal recourse.
Expected Effects
The bill's passage would empower students by ensuring they retain the right to sue their institutions in court. This could lead to increased litigation against colleges and universities. It may also change the way higher education institutions structure their enrollment agreements.
Potential Benefits 4/5
- Protects students' rights to pursue legal claims against higher education institutions.
- Prevents mandatory arbitration clauses in enrollment agreements, ensuring students have access to the court system.
- Enhances transparency and accountability of higher education institutions.
- Empowers students to seek redress for grievances without limitations on legal options.
- Could lead to improved student-institution relations through fairer dispute resolution processes.
Potential Disadvantages
- May increase litigation costs for higher education institutions, potentially leading to higher tuition fees.
- Could create an adversarial relationship between students and institutions.
- May lead to frivolous lawsuits against institutions.
- Could increase administrative burdens for colleges and universities.
- Potential for increased legal costs for institutions, regardless of the merit of the claims.
Constitutional Alignment 4/5
The bill aligns with constitutional principles by protecting individuals' access to the justice system. While the Constitution does not explicitly address arbitration agreements in education, the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process, which includes the right to a fair legal process. The bill supports this principle by ensuring students are not forced into arbitration and can pursue claims in court.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to citizens. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).