The Texas House gave initial approval Tuesday to Senate Bill 2972, which would impose new restrictions on campus protests. The legislation passed 111–27 and allows university boards to designate protest zones while banning certain activities during class hours. Students and staff would be prohibited from using sound amplification to intimidate, protesting within 300 feet of residences overnight, wearing disguises, and removing U.S. flags for other banners.
The bill, softened from the Senate’s earlier version, now permits some overnight activity and exempts health-related mask use. It returns to the Senate for reconciliation. Critics, including the ACLU and free speech advocates, argue the bill is unconstitutional and too vague. Tyler Coward of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned it could criminalize political expression like wearing a MAGA hat or Bernie Sanders shirt late at night.
The legislation follows 2023’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UT-Austin, where over 100 were arrested. Gov. Greg Abbott supported the crackdown, citing antisemitism concerns. Opponents, including UT law students, fear the bill will chill speech. Supporters, like Sen. Joan Huffman, claim the measure balances free expression with safety.
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