H.R. 7168 — Seton Hall Fire Victims Remembrance Act of 2026

This section directs the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and relevant experts, to develop and finalize standards for fire suppression systems in dormitories and other residential facilities at covered institutions of higher education (i.e., institutions receiving funds under specified federal education programs) not later than two years after enactment of this section (including a phase-in timeline and compliance threshold for designation), with updates every 10 years. Not later than three years after enactment, the Secretary must submit to Congress recommendations to maximize compliance and provide technical assistance to covered institutions. This section further requires each covered institution to assess its compliance with the standards not later than one year after finalization (and every five years thereafter), certified by a fire suppression expert and submitted to the Secretary, who must determine the degree of compliance within six months and designate compliant institutions as a “Federally Recognized Fire-Safe Campus” or noncompliant ones as a “Not Federally Recognized Fire-Safe Campus,” publishing all assessments and determinations on the Department of Education’s website. This section amends section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) to require covered institutions to agree to comply with these provisions in their program participation agreements for Title IV programs. (Thus, noncompliance does not terminate Title IV eligibility, per the rule of construction.)