A bipartisan group of U.S. senators reintroduced a bill to ban legacy admissions, tying accreditation to institutions that avoid preferential treatment based on alumni or donor relationships. The Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act would define “preferential treatment” as when an applicant’s ties become the determinative factor in admissions decisions or awards. Sponsors include Republicans Todd Young, Tim Scott, and John Kennedy and Democrats Tim Kaine, Raphael Warnock, and Andy Kim. They argued the measure protects opportunity and reduces advantages for connected applicants, while allowing colleges to consider “demonstrated interest” if it is clearly defined, public, and available to all. The proposal arrives amid post–Supreme Court admissions changes and intensified enforcement around race-conscious admissions decisions, while also reflecting the long-running policy debate over legacy preferences and elite recruitment networks. If enacted, the bill would expand federal leverage over institutional admissions practices through accreditation consequences, rather than relying on standalone legacy bans.