Skip to main content
HR 7152 116th Congress House Education Cardiovascular and respiratory health Child health Civil actions and liability Education programs funding Elementary and secondary education Emergency medical services and trauma care Health promotion and preventive care Higher education Infectious and parasitic diseases School administration Teaching, teachers, curricula

Reopen Our Schools Act

Introduced: July 16, 2020 Introduced by: Banks, Jim Republican · Indiana See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jun 11, 2020
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Reopen Our Schools Act

This bill generally prohibits a school or educational agency from receiving certain federal funds unless it provides a certification to the Department of Education (ED) related to resuming in-person instruction.

Specifically, the bill prohibits an elementary or secondary school, institution of higher education, or local or state educational agency from receiving federal funds for the 2020-2021 school year unless the school or educational agency certifies to ED that it (1) will begin providing in-person instruction by September 8, 2020; and (2) has a detailed plan to protect the health of students and staff. However, ED may waive this requirement.

Further, neither a school or educational agency that provides such a certification nor its employees may be held liable for in-person instruction that results in an alleged exposure to the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19 or another coronavirus with pandemic potential).

What's happening now June 11, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Republican 4
R
Biggs, Andy
Arizona · Jul 16, 2020
Gibbs, Bob
· Jul 16, 2020
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Jul 16, 2020
 R
Smith, Jason
Missouri · Jul 16, 2020
 R
Tiffany, Thomas P.
Wisconsin · Jun 11, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7152: Reopen Our Schools Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7152/
MLA
"H.R. 7152: Reopen Our Schools Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7152/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7152, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7152/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7152: Reopen Our Schools Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7152/)
Report a problem