2025 Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting

July 31 - August 3 
Austin, Texas
The Westin Austin Downtown
310 East 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701

For additional information/details regarding this meeting, please contact Chris Paulson (cpaulson@nfhs.org) at the NFHS.

2025 NFHS Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting - General Info

• Register Here – registration for the 2025 Topic Selection Meeting is now closed. Please contact Chris Paulson (cpaulson@nfhs.org) if you need to register.

• Hotel Registration – This year's meeting is at the Westin Austin Downtown (Marriott property). Unfortunately, the ability to reserve our "group rate" has passed, but you can book a room using this link.

• Things to Do in Austin – use this resource published by the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau to find unique places to eat, shop, and listen to music.

• Policy Debate Quarterly (Pre-Order / Purchase Now!) – Policy Debate Quarterly is the premier resource for the current year’s Policy Debate Topic.

2025 NFHS Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting - Specific Meeting Materials

• Detailed Agenda / Schedule – schedule updated July 21, 2025.

• Roster - State Delegates and Attendees

• Marshall Subcommittee Assignments

• Debatability Roundtable Schedule and Questions

• 26-27 Voting Ballots (for Sunday)

• Topic Paper Submissions - for review

• Updated Resolutions after Day One (8/1)

• Resolution Review Timeline (8/2)

• Updated Resolutions after Day Two (8/2)
  

• Press Release: Top 5 Topics Announced for 2026-27 National Policy Debate Ballot

2025 - Current Year Updates (Arctic Topic)

The final Policy Debate Topic for 2025-2026 has been announced! To understand how we got to this point in the process, please review the articles linked below.

• 5 Suggested Topics for 2025-26, which came from the 2025 Topic Selection Meeting

• 2 Topics Remain as finalists for the 2025-2026 National High School Policy Debate Topic

• Arctic Selected as 2025-2026 National Policy Debate Topic

Resources for 2025-2026 National Policy Debate - Arctic

• Novice Case Limits for "Arctic"

• Arctic - Basic Debate

• Arctic - Affirmative Cases

• Arctic - Counterplans

• Arctic - Negative Topicality

• Glossary of Arctic Terms

• Definitions of Terms on the Arctic Topic

• Internet Debate Research 2025

• Pending Legislation Concerning the Arctic

Topic Author - Information

• 2024-25 Topic Selection Handbook – Information for current and future authors, including timelines, writing criteria, stipend structures, and more.

• Archive of Topic Reports from previous years (2019-present)

• Archive of Past Topic Resolutions

• Resource Video - this video may help new topic authors to familiarize themselves with the topic paper writing process.

• Timeline for 2024-2025 – graphic detailing Topic Selection Procedures