Senator Kaine Reintroduced Campus Sexual Assault Bills

Senator Tim Kaine has brought back two pieces of legislation aimed at improving sexual assault prevention on campuses.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Sex Crimes

Senator Kaine Reintroduced Campus Sexual Assault Bills

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Should colleges be legally required to provide independent sexual assault advocates for their students?

Senator Tim Kaine has reintroduced the SOS Campus Act and the SUCCESS Act to strengthen sexual assault prevention and support resources at colleges. These bills aim to address ongoing issues with harassment and assault through mandates for federal funding recipients.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation seeks to protect students by standardizing access to advocates and training. These measures are intended to foster safer academic environments through increased accountability and education.

Senator Tim Kaine has officially reintroduced the SOS Campus Act and the SUCCESS Act into the legislative process. The specific procedural status and next committee hearing dates for these bills are currently unknown.

The players

Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine is a U.S. Senator representing Virginia who has served in the Senate since 2013 and previously served as the Governor of Virginia.

The details

The SOS Campus Act requires schools receiving federal funding to employ an independent student advocate and mandates comprehensive education on consent and awareness. Additionally, the SUCCESS Act provides authorized funding for sexual assault prevention training tailored for students, faculty, and administrators.

September 29, 2026: Senator Tim Kaine reintroduced the two campus sexual assault bills.

Legal Context

These bills extend a long-standing pattern of federal oversight in campus safety that began with the passage of the Clery Act. By mandating new roles and training, the legislation represents an expansion of the regulatory framework governing how universities manage student protection.

If passed, these bills would mandate that federally funded colleges provide dedicated, independent advocates to assist students navigating assault reporting and recovery. Students and their families would benefit from expanded access to health and law enforcement resources on campus.

The takeaway

The reintroduction of these bills highlights a continued focus on campus safety through federal legislative mandates. Students and faculty can monitor these bills as they move through the congressional process to see how institutional requirements for prevention training might shift.