HR 3941 United States House · 118th Congress

Schools Not Shelters Act

HR 3941, the Schools Not Shelters Act, prohibits public schools and colleges receiving federal funds from using their facilities to house non-admitted immigrants. This applies to all K-12 public schools and institutions of higher education that accept federal financial assistance. The rule is a condition for receiving such funding, with exceptions for emergency shelter during specified disasters (like fires or floods). The bill does not restrict schools from using facilities for educational purposes or other non-immigrant-related housing.

Issues: ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics: Detention Sanctuary Policies

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2023

Committee Review

Jul 2023

House Passage

Jul 2023

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jun 9, 2023 Last action Jul 20, 2023

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 2 edits · Jul 19, 2023

MINOR

The Engrossed version of HR 3941 makes two substantive changes: it broadens the section title to explicitly cover 'school and institution facilities' (not just schools), and it adds a new definition capping 'short-term' emergency shelter at 72 hours, which narrows the existing disaster exception by putting a specific time limit on it.

SCOPE

Section 2 title changed from 'Prohibition on use of school facilities to shelter certain aliens' to 'Prohibition on use of school and institution facilities to shelter certain aliens,' making explicit that the prohibition covers institutions of higher education in addition to K-12 schools.

DEFINITION

New definition added: 'short-term' means a duration not to exceed 72 hours. This quantifies the existing exception for short-term emergency shelter made necessary by a specified disaster, capping it at three days.

Floor votes · House Jul 19, 2023

How they voted

222–201

Passed · 11 other

Total votes 434

Jul 19, 2023

D Democratic212

4 Yea 201 Nay 7

94% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican221

217 Yea 4

98% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 20, 2023

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

upper

Jul 19, 2023

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 201 (Roll no. 340).

lower

Jul 19, 2023

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 201 (Roll no. 340).

lower

Jul 18, 2023

Lower · Passed

Mr. Vasquez moved to recommit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce. (text: CR H3680)

lower

Jul 18, 2023

Introduced

The previous question was ordered on the amendment and the bill pursuant to the rule.

lower

Jul 18, 2023

Introduced

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 597, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 1.

lower

Jul 18, 2023

Lower · Passed

Rule H. Res. 597 passed House.

lower

Jul 18, 2023

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 597 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3935 and H.R. 3941. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3935 and H.R. 3941 both under a structured rule with one hour of general debate. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on each measure.

lower

Jun 30, 2023

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 118-130.

lower

Jun 13, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

lower

Jun 9, 2023

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

lower

Jun 9, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors