Declares outdoor areas public forums, punishes students who interfere with others’ speech

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed a sweeping new law that aims to protect free speech on college campuses across the Lone Star state.

“Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses,” the governor said in a video released on Twitter on Sunday as he signed the bill. “Well, no more. Because I am about to sign a law that protects free speech on college campuses in Texas.”

“Shouldn’t have to do it. First Amendment guarantees it,” he added. “Now, it’s law in Texas.”

Embedded video Greg Abbott ✔ @GregAbbott_TX

I just signed a law protecting free speech on college campuses. #txlege

As The College Fix reported in April, the legislation, SB18, ensures that “the common outdoor areas of the institution’s campus are deemed traditional public forums” and allows universities to impose time/place/manner restrictions as long as those restrictions follow published and viewpoint-neutral criteria and allow for “ample” alternative expression.

Poster Comment:

Governor Gavin Newsom of California would never do that.

Newsom's aunt was married to Ron Pelosi, the brother-in-law of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.[10]