Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires the governing boards of institutions of higher education to designate areas on campus for public forum and prohibits certain activities during student demonstrations in Texas.

Highlights:

• Expands the definition of “expressive activities” to include speech and conduct protected under the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, such as protests and petitioning, but excluding conduct like defamation, unlawful harassment, obscenity, and threats (Sec. 1).

• Limits protected expressive rights on campus to students and employees, rather than all persons (Sec. 1).

• Requires the governing board of a higher institution to designate public areas on campus for students to practice their rights under the First Amendment (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes institutions to create policies that (Sec. 1):

• Prohibit actions like camping, overly amplified sound, wearing disguises to avoid identification, and replacing U.S. or Texas flags with foreign ones;

• Limit expressive activity between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m; 

• Require students and employees to show identification when requested by campus officials; and

• Establish discipline measures for students or employees who disrupt others’ expressive activities.

• Establishes that nothing in the law restricts otherwise constitutionally protected speech (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act’s provisions will begin with the 2025–2026 academic year and take effect September 1, 2025 (Secs. 3–4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires the governing boards of institutions of higher education to designate areas on campus for public forum and prohibits certain activities during student demonstrations in Texas.

Highlights:

• Expands the definition of “expressive activities” to include speech and conduct protected under the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, such as protests and petitioning, but excluding conduct like defamation, unlawful harassment, obscenity, and threats (Sec. 1).

• Limits protected expressive rights on campus to students and employees, rather than all persons (Sec. 1).

• Requires the governing board of a higher institution to designate public areas on campus for students to practice their rights under the First Amendment (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes institutions to create policies that (Sec. 1):

• Prohibit actions like camping, overly amplified sound, wearing disguises to avoid identification, and replacing U.S. or Texas flags with foreign ones;

• Limit expressive activity between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m; 

• Require students and employees to show identification when requested by campus officials; and

• Establish discipline measures for students or employees who disrupt others’ expressive activities.

• Establishes that nothing in the law restricts otherwise constitutionally protected speech (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act’s provisions will begin with the 2025–2026 academic year and take effect September 1, 2025 (Secs. 3–4).

Full Bill Text