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Bill

S 3589

RISE Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jim Banks and 10 co-sponsors

The bill standardizes disability documentation for college accommodations and increases transparency and data reporting to improve access and outcomes for students with disabilitie

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 3589

Summary of Bill: S.3589 (RISE Act)

Purpose and intent

  • The Retain, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act (RISE Act) aims to improve information access and support for college students with disabilities and their families.
  • It modifies eligibility documentation processes, enhances disclosure of disability-related information to aid college choice and success, and strengthens data collection on students with disabilities.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Definition alignment (Section 2)

    • Corrects cross-reference in the Higher Education Act definition of “disability” by replacing a reference to “section 3(2)” with “section 3.”

  2. Succeeding students with disabilities on campus (Section 3)

    • Adds new duty to each higher education institution that participates in federal programs:
      • The institution must adopt policies recognizing multiple forms of disability documentation as sufficient proof of disability for accommodations. Acceptable documentation includes:
      • An individualized education program (IEP) from high school (under IDEA, if used in high school)
      • Section 504 plans (from high school)
      • Plans/records from other educational providers (private high schools, LEAs, SEAs, or higher education institutions) under the ADA
      • Evaluations or records from licensed professionals confirming disability
      • Disability documentation from another higher education institution
      • Documentation of a disability due to uniformed service
      • The institution must have transparent, explicit processes for determining eligibility for accommodations.
      • The institution must disseminate this information to students, parents, and faculty in accessible formats, including during orientation and via the institution’s public website.
      • Institutions may choose to use less burdensome criteria than those listed, so long as they still establish disability status for accommodations.

  3. Funding for the National Center for Information and Technical Support (Section 4)

    • Reorganizes funding authority to flow through a new paragraph (5) under the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities.
    • Authorizes $10,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support the Center’s activities.

  4. Inclusion of disability information in federal data (Section 5)

    • Requires colleges to report key data about undergraduate students who are formally registered with the campus office of disability services to IPEDS or other federal data collections. Required data include:
      • Total number of students registered with the disability services office
      • Number of students accessing or receiving accommodations (voluntarily reported)
      • Percentage of undergraduates enrolled who are registered with the disability services office
      • Total number of undergraduate certificates or degrees awarded to students registered with disability services
    • Institutions may omit reporting if the number of students would reveal personally identifiable information.

  5. Constitutional and interpretive notes (Section 6)

    • Clarifies that none of the Act’s amendments should alter the meaning of “reasonable accommodation” or “record of impairment” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Who is affected

  • Higher education institutions participating in federal student aid programs (e.g., Title IV institutions) would be directly affected by new documentation standards, disclosure requirements, and data reporting.
  • Students with disabilities and their families would benefit from expanded, more accessible information about how disabilities are documented for accommodations and the process to obtain supports.
  • The National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities would receive new or expanded funding to support information and technical assistance efforts.
  • Federal data collections (e.g., IPEDS) would include new disability-related data fields to monitor enrollment, accommodations use, and degree/certificate outcomes.

Timing and procedural notes

  • Effective date: The bill sets funding for fiscal years 2027–2031, indicating year-by-year implementation would follow thereafter.
  • The bill was introduced January 7, 2026, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • The Act includes a short title: “Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act” or the “RISE Act.”

Potential impact (high-level)

  • Streamlined and standardized documentation for disability accommodations, potentially reducing barriers for students transitioning from K-12 to higher education.
  • Increased transparency about eligibility processes for accommodations.
  • Enhanced accessibility of information to students, families, and faculty.
  • Improved national data on disability participation and outcomes in postsecondary education, informing policy and resource allocation.
  • Additional federal funding support for information and technical assistance to support students with disabilities.

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

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