New York Assembly Bill A03487

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/25
• Refer: 1/28/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Mandates that no employee or officer of the university shall determine the specific details of a student's immigration status except when required by federal law, pursuant to a court order or as required in connection with tuition or financial aid eligibility.

Summary

This bill would add new provisions to the Education Law governing the State University of New York and the City University of New York regarding student immigration status. It bars university employees and officers from determining the specific details of a student’s immigration status unless doing so is required by federal law, a court order, or is necessary for tuition or financial aid eligibility. The bill also directs the SUNY Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents to adopt standards ensuring that students are not asked immigration-status questions beyond what is necessary to determine whether the student is an immigrant. The bill further prohibits colleges and universities in these systems from requiring students to provide information about lawful immigration status, refugee status, or nationality-specific immigrant status. It is designed to limit collection and disclosure of sensitive immigration information while preserving exceptions for legal compliance and financial aid administration. The measure would take effect immediately if enacted.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would amend the Education Law by adding parallel protections for student immigration-status privacy in both SUNY and CUNY governance provisions. It would constrain institutional practices around admissions, registration, and student records by limiting when university personnel may inquire into or determine immigration details, while still allowing disclosures required by federal law, court order, or tuition/aid determinations. The bill would also require the relevant governing boards to promulgate standards for implementation across colleges and universities in the state systems.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a privacy- and student-protection-focused proposal with no documented opposition or support in the record supplied. Its stated purpose suggests a generally protective posture toward immigrant and mixed-status students, emphasizing reduced questioning and confidentiality around immigration information. Because no voting history or transcript excerpts are provided, there is no observable legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s own framing.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the scope of limits on university inquiries into immigration status, particularly whether restricting questions could affect administrative verification, compliance, or data collection practices. Supporters would likely emphasize student privacy, reduced fear among immigrant students, and protection from unnecessary disclosure, while critics might focus on the need for institutions to verify eligibility for tuition, financial aid, or legal compliance. The bill expressly preserves exceptions for federal law, court orders, and aid-related determinations, which appears intended to address those concerns.