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Bill

HF 4256

Expiration date for exemption to reporting and marketing requirements for institutions contracting with online program management companies removed.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Swedzinski

Removes sunset date on exemptions allowing colleges to bypass reporting and marketing disclosure requirements when using online program management companies.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Higher Education Finance and Policy
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Bill Summary · HF 4256

Legislative bill overview

HF 4256 removes a sunset provision that previously allowed educational institutions contracting with online program management (OPM) companies to operate under exemptions from certain reporting and marketing requirements. This makes those exemptions permanent rather than time-limited, eliminating the need for the exemption to expire or be renewed.

Why is this important

Online program management companies increasingly operate college and university online education programs, often handling admissions, marketing, and student services. The reporting and marketing exemptions affect regulatory transparency and consumer protection standards. Removing the expiration date makes this regulatory approach permanent, affecting how online education programs are disclosed to students and monitored by state authorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory oversight concerns: Permanently exempting OPM-contracted programs from reporting requirements may reduce state visibility into program quality, student outcomes, and institutional accountability
  • Student protection debate: Critics may argue that exemptions from marketing disclosure requirements could disadvantage prospective students seeking transparent information about program ownership and management
  • Industry support vs. public interest: OPM companies and institutions benefit from reduced compliance burdens, but this conflicts with traditional higher education transparency standards and may disadvantage students at non-OPM institutions facing stricter requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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