Education Code § 51.9315

Sec. 51.9315. PROTECTED EXPRESSION ON CAMPUS. (a) In this section: (1) "Benefit" includes: (A) recognition by or registration with an institution of higher education; (B) the use of an institution of higher education's facilities for meetings or speaking purposes; (C) the use of channels of communication controlled by an institution of higher education; and (D) funding sources made generally available to student organizations at an institution of higher education. (2) "Expressive activities" means any speech or expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution, and includes assemblies, protests, speeches, the distribution of written material, the carrying of signs, and the circulation of petitions. The term does not include: (A) commercial speech; (B) defamation; (C) unlawful harassment; (D) incitement to imminent unlawful activity; (E) obscenity; or (F) threats to engage in unlawful activity. (3) "Governing board" and "institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. (4) "Student organization" includes any organization that is composed mostly of students enrolled at an institution of higher education and that receives a benefit from the institution. (b) It is the policy of this state and the purpose of this section to protect the expressive rights of persons guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and of this state by: (1) recognizing freedom of speech and assembly as central to the mission of institutions of higher education; and (2) ensuring that students enrolled at and employees of an institution of higher education may assemble peaceably on the campuses of the institution for expressive activities, including to listen to or observe the expressive activities of others. (c) An institution of higher education shall permit students enrolled at and employees of the institution to engage in expressive activities in the common outdoor areas of the institution's campus freely, as long as the expressive activity: (1) is not unlawful; and (2) does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the institution. (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), an institution of higher education may adopt a policy that imposes reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of expressive activities of students enrolled at and employees of the institution in the common outdoor areas of the institution's campus if those restrictions: (1) are narrowly tailored to serve a significant institutional interest; (2) employ clear, published, content-neutral, and viewpoint-neutral criteria; (3) provide for ample alternative means of expression; and (4) allow members of the university community to assemble or distribute written material without a permit or other permission from the institution. (d-1) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall designate the areas on the institution's campus that are public forums, consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution. (e) Subsections (c) and (d) do not: (1) limit the right of student expression at other campus locations; or (2) prohibit faculty members from maintaining order in the classroom. (f) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy detailing rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities at the institution. The policy must: (1) allow: (A) members of the university community to, subject to reasonable restrictions adopted under Subsection (d), engage in expressive activities on campus, including by responding to the expressive activities of others; and (B) student organizations and faculty to, subject to Subdivision (2)(B)(ii) and Subsection (h), invite speakers to speak on campus; (2) prohibit: (A) using a device to amplify sound while engaging in expressive activities on campus during class hours that: (i) intimidate others; (ii) interfere with campus operations; or (iii) interfere with an institution employee's or a peace officer's lawful performance of a duty; (B) during the last two weeks of a semester or term, engaging in expressive activities: (i) in the common outdoor areas of the institution's campus in a manner that materially and substantially disrupts the functioning of the institution; (ii) by inviting speakers to speak on campus; (iii) by using a device to amplify sound; or (iv) by using drums or other percussive instruments; (C) camping or erecting tents or other living accommodations on campus; (D) wearing a disguise or other means of concealing a person's identity while engaging in expressive activities on campus with the intent to: (i) obstruct the enforcement of the institution's rules or the law by avoiding identification; (ii) intimidate others; or (iii) interfere with an institution employee's or a peace officer's lawful performance of a duty; (E) lowering the institution's flag of the United States or of this state with the intent to raise the flag of another nation or a flag representing an organization or group of people; and (F) engaging in expressive activities on campus between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.; (3) establish disciplinary sanctions for students, student organizations, or employees who unduly interfere with the expressive activities of others on campus or violate an institution policy or state law; (4) include a grievance procedure for addressing complaints of a violation of this section; (5) require students enrolled at or employees of the institution to present proof of identity and status at the institution on request by an institution official on the institution's campus engaging in an official duty; (6) be approved by a majority vote of the institution's governing board before final adoption; and (7) be posted on the institution's Internet website. (g) An institution of higher education may not take action against a student organization or deny the organization any benefit generally available to other student organizations at the institution on the basis of a political, religious, philosophical, ideological, or academic viewpoint expressed by the organization or of any expressive activities of the organization. (h) In determining whether to approve a speaker to speak on campus or in determining the amount of a fee to be charged for use of the institution's facilities for purposes of engaging in expressive activities, an institution of higher education: (1) may consider only content-neutral and viewpoint-neutral criteria related to the needs of the event, such as: (A) the proposed venue and the expected size of the audience; (B) any anticipated need for campus security; (C) any necessary accommodations; and (D) any relevant history of compliance or noncompliance by the requesting student organization or faculty member with the institution's policy adopted under Subsection (f) and any other relevant policies; and (2) may not consider any anticipated controversy related to the event. (i) Each institution of higher education shall make the institution's policies adopted in accordance with this section available to students enrolled at and employees of the institution by: (1) including the policies in the institution's student handbook and personnel handbook; (2) providing a copy of each policy to students during the institution's freshman or transfer student orientation; and (3) posting the policies on the institution's Internet website. (j) Each institution of higher education shall develop materials, programs, and procedures to ensure that the institution's employees responsible for educating or disciplining students understand the requirements of this section and all policies adopted by the institution in accordance with this section. (k) Nothing in this section limits the authority of an institution of higher education to adopt rules differentiating between the rights of students and employees to engage in expressive activities on campus and those of persons not affiliated with the institution. (l) Nothing in this section may be construed to limit or infringe on a person's right to freedom of speech or expression protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 568 (S.B. 18), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1158 (S.B. 2972), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1158 (S.B. 2972), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.