summary
Introduced
12/11/2025
12/11/2025
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Higher Education Enrollment Fraud Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to convene a working group to develop policies and procedures for institutions of higher education to prevent fraudulent enrollment in online courses for the purpose of gaining access to financial aid, campus information technology systems, and student support services. Requires each institution of higher education to complete an annual cybersecurity self-assessment of its information technology infrastructure to determine its Information Technology Laboratory score and annually report local and systemwide technology and data security measures that support improved oversight of fraud mitigation, online learning quality, and cybersecurity efforts to the Board. Requires the self-assessment and report to be submitted to the Board by December 15, 2026 and each December 15 thereafter and the Board to compile a report of these submissions and submit that report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2027 and each January 15 thereafter. Includes other information an institution of higher education must submit related to enrollment fraud. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Higher Education Enrollment Fraud Act, which requires the Board of Higher Education to create a working group to develop policies preventing fraudulent online course enrollment aimed at improperly accessing financial aid, campus technology systems, and student support services. Each higher education institution must conduct an annual cybersecurity self-assessment to determine its Information Technology Laboratory score and report on technology and data security measures. The comprehensive assessment must include detailed information about fraudulent enrollments, such as the number and percentage of fake enrollments, financial aid disbursed to fraudulent students, estimated financial losses, fraud prevention strategies, and impacts on legitimate students and state funding. Institutions must submit these self-assessments to the Board by December 15, 2026, and each subsequent December 15, with the Board compiling the submissions and reporting to the General Assembly by January 15, 2027, and annually thereafter. Additionally, institutions must provide remediation updates, cybersecurity incident reports, and information on fraudulent admission applications. The bill defines "institution of higher education" as any public or private college or university in the state, including community colleges, and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung (on 02/25/2026)
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