Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

Key Points

• This bill would require public colleges and universities to allow students to peacefully protest, hand out fliers, and speak freely in open areas of campus. It bans 'free speech zones' and restrictive codes that limit where or how students can express their opinions, ensuring that outdoor campus spaces remain open for discussion.
• Private colleges would be required to clearly post all their speech and protest rules on their websites and in student handbooks. While these schools can still set their own rules, they must be completely transparent about them so students know exactly what is allowed before they enroll or start an activity.
• If a school violates these rules and refuses to fix them, the Department of Education could take away their federal funding. This means the school would lose the ability to accept federal student loans or grants for at least three years, which would significantly impact the school's budget and its students.
• Students who feel their rights were violated could sue their college in federal court. If the student wins, the court could order the school to pay at least $500 for the first violation, plus $50 for every day the school keeps the illegal policy in place after being told it is wrong.
• These new rules would not apply to every school. Military academies and private colleges that are run by religious organizations would be exempt from these specific requirements, allowing them to maintain their own standards and traditions.