IB 
Union Calendar No. 360 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4054 
[Report No. 119–414] 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reform accreditation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 20, 2025 
Mr. FINE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Workforce 
DECEMBER 18, 2025 
Additional sponsor: Mr. MESSMER 
DECEMBER 18, 2025 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 20, 2025] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reform 
accreditation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Accreditation Choice 
and Innovation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNITION. 
(a) CRITERIA REQUIRED.—Section 496(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in 
the first sentence, by striking ‘‘or training’’ and in-
serting ‘‘or skills development’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) the accrediting agency or association (other 
than an accrediting agency or association described 
in paragraph (2)(D)) shall be a State or national 
agency or association and shall demonstrate the abil-
ity to operate as an institutional or programmatic 
accrediting agency or association within the State or 
nationally, as appropriate;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘prin-
cipal’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
in this subclause as a ‘public 
member’) 
and 
who 
represents 
business (such as an owner of a 
business (including a small busi-
ness), a chief executive or oper-
ating officer of a business, or an-
other other business executive or 
employer with optimum policy-
making or hiring authority); and 
‘‘(bb) if such board or body is 
comprised of 6 or more members, 
there is a minimum of 2 public 
members (at least one of whom 
represents business (as described 
in item (aa))) for every 6 mem-
bers; 
‘‘(III) guidelines are established 
for such members to avoid conflicts of 
interest, including specific guidelines 
to ensure that no such member is an 
employee of any institution accredited 
by the agency or association or has a 
financial interest in any such institu-
tion; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(IV) dues to the accrediting 
agency or association are paid sepa-
rately from any dues paid to any re-
lated, associated, or affiliated trade as-
sociation or membership organization; 
and 
‘‘(V) the budget of the accrediting 
agency or association is developed, de-
termined, and maintained by the ac-
crediting agency or association without 
any review by, consultation with, or 
approval by any related, associated, or 
affiliated trade association or member-
ship organization; or’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (B); and 
(C) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(5) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(in the manner de-
scribed in subparagraph (B))’’ after ‘‘reli-
gious missions’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and in-
serting the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) such accrediting agency or association con-
sistently applies and enforces standards that respect 
the stated religious mission of an institution of higher 
education by— 
‘‘(i) basing decisions regarding accredita-
tion and preaccreditation on the standards of ac-
creditation of such agency or association; and 
‘‘(ii) not using as a negative factor the in-
stitution’s religious mission based policies, deci-
sions, and practices in the areas covered by sub-
paragraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) of para-
graph (5), except that the agency or association 
may require that the institution’s or a program 
of study’s curricula include all core components 
required by the agency or association that are 
not inconsistent with the institution’s religious 
mission; and 
‘‘(C) such agency or association demonstrates the 
ability to review, evaluate, and assess the quality of 
any instruction delivery model or method such agency 
or association has or seeks to include within its scope 
of recognition, without giving preference to or dif-
ferentially treating (such as through separate stand-
ards, procedures, or policies) a particular instruction 
delivery model or method offered by an institution or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
program, except that in a case in which an instruc-
tion delivery model allows for the separation of the 
student from the instructor, the agency or association 
requires the institution to have processes— 
‘‘(i) through which the institution estab-
lishes that the student who registers in a course 
or program with such an instruction delivery 
model is the same student who participates in 
the course or program of study (including, to the 
extent practicable, the testing or other assess-
ments required under the course or program of 
study), completes the course or program of study, 
and receives the academic credit for such course 
or program of study; and 
‘‘(ii) which are implemented in a manner 
that is minimally burdensome to the student;’’; 
(6) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) success with respect to student achieve-
ment outcomes in relation to the institution’s 
mission and to the programs the institution of-
fers, or the mission of a specific degree, certifi-
cate, or credential program, which may include 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
different standards for different institutions or 
programs of study, and which shall include— 
‘‘(i) standards for consideration of stu-
dent success outcomes measures, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(I) a comparison of the median 
total price charged to students in a 
program of study student cohort to the 
value-added earnings of such cohort; 
‘‘(II) completion rates; 
‘‘(III) retention rates; and 
‘‘(IV) loan repayment rates; 
‘‘(ii) standards for consideration of 
learning outcomes measures (such as com-
petency attainment and licensing examina-
tion passage rates); and 
‘‘(iii) standards for consideration of 
labor market outcomes measures (such as 
employability measures, earnings gains, or 
other similar approaches);’’; and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (I) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(I) record of student complaints received 
by, or available to, the agency or association, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
and the institution’s process for resolving com-
plaints against the institution; and’’; 
(C) in the matter following subparagraph 
(J), by striking ‘‘subparagraphs (A), (H), and 
(J)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (J)’’; and 
(7) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii), by inserting before 
the semicolon at the end the following: ‘‘(including 
any student complaints received by, or available to, 
the agency or association)’’. 
(b) SECRETARIAL REQUIREMENTS AND AUTHORITY.— 
Subsection (b) of section 496 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) SECRETARIAL REQUIREMENTS
AND AUTHOR-
ITY.— 
‘‘(1) STATE
DESIGNATED
ACCREDITING
AGEN-
CY.— 
‘‘(A) APPROVAL
OF
STATE
PLANS.—The 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) if a State’s plan with respect to 
the State’s designation of an entity as an 
accrediting agency or association for the 
purposes described in subsection (a)(2)(D) 
includes each of the elements listed in sub-
paragraph (B)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) subject to clause (ii)(I), ap-
prove the State’s designation of such 
entity as such accrediting agency or 
association for the purposes described 
in subsection (a)(2)(D) for a 5-year pe-
riod, beginning not later than 30 days 
after receipt of the plan from such 
State with respect to such designation; 
‘‘(II) submit to the State and the 
authorizing committees, and make pub-
licly available, the Secretary’s response 
to the State with respect to such plan, 
including whether the plan includes 
each of the elements listed in subpara-
graph (B); and 
‘‘(III) publish in the Federal Reg-
ister, with a 30-day public comment 
period, the plan submitted by such 
State with respect to such designation, 
and the Secretary’s response to such 
plan; and 
‘‘(ii) if, not later than 30 days after 
the 30-day public comment period referred 
to in clause (i)(III), a State revises the 
State’s plan approved under clause (i)(I) to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
incorporate one or more of the comments re-
ceived during such 30-day comment period, 
and such revised plan includes each of the 
elements listed in subparagraph (B)— 
‘‘(I) revise the 5-year period de-
scribed in clause (i)(I) approving the 
State’s designation of the entity as an 
accrediting agency or association for 
the purposes described in subsection 
(a)(2)(D) to begin not later than 30 
days after receipt of such revised plan; 
‘‘(II) submit to the State and the 
authorizing committees, and make pub-
licly available, the Secretary’s response 
to the State with respect to such re-
vised plan, including whether such re-
vised plan includes each of the elements 
listed in subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(III) publish in the Federal Reg-
ister, such revised State plan, and the 
Secretary’s response to such revised 
State plan. 
‘‘(B) REQUIRED PLAN ELEMENTS.—The re-
quired elements of a State plan submitted under 
subparagraph (A) with respect to the designation 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
of an entity as an accrediting agency or associa-
tion are as follows: 
‘‘(i) A description of the process the 
State used to select the entity for such des-
ignation. 
‘‘(ii) A justification of the State’s deci-
sion to select the entity for such designation. 
‘‘(iii) A description of any require-
ments (in addition to the requirements of 
this section), that the State required the en-
tity to comply with as a condition of receiv-
ing and maintaining such designation, in-
cluding a requirement for the entity to use, 
to the extent practicable during such des-
ignation, the common terminology developed 
pursuant to paragraph (3). 
‘‘(iv) A copy of the standards, policies, 
and procedures of the entity that the State 
considered in selecting the entity for such 
designation. 
‘‘(v) The State’s assessment of how the 
standards for accreditation of the entity 
will be effective in meeting the requirements 
of subsection (a)(5). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(vi) Evidence that at least one other 
State has determined that such entity is a 
reliable authority as to the quality of edu-
cation offered for the purposes of this Act. 
‘‘(vii) An assurance that the State will 
comply with the monitoring requirements 
described in subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(C) STATE MONITORING.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A State that has 
designated an entity as an accrediting 
agency or association for the purposes de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2)(D) shall submit 
to the Secretary, and to the State author-
izing entity, as appropriate, a report at the 
end of the 5-year period for which the entity 
has received such designation, which shall 
include, with respect to each program of 
study or institution that has been accredited 
by such entity during such period, and 
disaggregated by type of credential, certifi-
cation, or degree— 
‘‘(I) the number and percentage of 
students who have successfully obtained 
a postsecondary education credential, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
certification, or degree offered by such 
program or institution; 
‘‘(II) the number and percentage 
of students who were enrolled and did 
not successfully obtain such a creden-
tial, certification, or degree within 150 
percent of the program length; and 
‘‘(III) the results of the State’s as-
sessment described in subparagraph 
(B)(v). 
‘‘(ii) 
COUNTING
TRANSFER
STU-
DENTS.—For purposes of clause (i)(I), a 
student shall be counted as obtaining a cre-
dential, certification, or degree offered by a 
program of study or institution that was 
accredited by the entity during the period 
for which the report under this subpara-
graph is being submitted, if the student ob-
tains such credential, certification, or degree 
after transferring to another institution 
during such period. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE AN ACCELERATED 
PATH TO RECOGNITION.—With respect to a prospec-
tive accrediting agency or association that submits to 
the Secretary an application for initial recognition 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
under this Act, the Secretary may provide such rec-
ognition to such agency or association within 2 years 
after receipt of such application, if such applica-
tion— 
‘‘(A) demonstrates that the agency or asso-
ciation— 
‘‘(i) has at least one year of experience 
in making accreditation or preaccreditation 
decisions; and 
‘‘(ii) has policies in place that meet all 
the criteria under subsection (a) for recogni-
tion covering the range of the specific de-
grees, certificates, institutions, and pro-
grams of study for which the agency or as-
sociation seeks such recognition; and 
‘‘(B) provides an assurance that if the agen-
cy or association receives such recognition, the 
agency or association will submit to the Sec-
retary monitoring reports regarding accredita-
tion or preaccreditation decisions, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) 
DEVELOPMENT
OF
COMMON
TERMI-
NOLOGY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of the Accred-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
itation Choice and Innovation Act, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(i) convene a panel of experts to de-
velop common terminology for accrediting 
agencies or associations to use in making 
accrediting decisions with respect to pro-
grams of study and institutions, such as a 
common 
understanding 
of 
monitoring, 
warning, show cause, and other relevant 
statuses, as appropriate; 
‘‘(ii) publish in the Federal Register 
with a 60-day public comment period, the 
recommendations for such common termi-
nology; and 
‘‘(iii) if the panel revises any rec-
ommendations published pursuant to clause 
(ii) based on the comments received during 
the 60-day public comment period, publish 
such revised recommendations in the Fed-
eral Register not later than 60 days after 
such 60-day comment period. 
‘‘(B) 
FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE 
ACT.—Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, 
shall not apply to the panel convened under this 
paragraph. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:30 Dec 19, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4054.RH
H4054
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS