Think You Can Say Anything on Campus? Texas Just Changed the Rules.
- Brandon Grable
- Aug 21
- 4 min read
Texas just rolled back campus free speech protections. Here’s what students and faculty need to know about the new limits on protests, academic freedom, and First Amendment rights in 2025.
First Amendment Rights on Campus: What Students & Faculty Should Know (2025)
College campuses have always been a place where ideas clash, grow, and spark change. But in Texas, new laws are reshaping how free speech works in practice. Students and faculty still enjoy strong First Amendment protections — but the rules about when, where, and how you can express yourself have shifted.
If you’re on a Texas campus, you may be wondering: What speech is still protected? Where can I speak freely? What new limits do I need to know about?
This guide breaks down the First Amendment rights on campus and how Texas’s new laws affect them.
What the First Amendment Actually Says
The U.S. Constitution protects free speech, press, and peaceful assembly from government interference. For public universities — which are government actors — that means administrators cannot punish you simply for holding an unpopular opinion or organizing a protest.
For private universities, the First Amendment doesn’t apply in the same way, though schools may have their own internal policies that promise free expression.
Texas’s Changing Campus Speech Laws
For years, Texas law (SB 18, passed in 2019) treated all outdoor common areas on public campuses as public forums, open to free expression. That meant students, faculty, and even visitors could speak, protest, or assemble without being confined to so-called “free speech zones.”
But as of September 1, 2025, a new law — SB 2972 — rolled back those broad protections. Now:
✅ Only students, faculty, and employees have the right to engage in expressive activities.
✅ Schools can restrict speech between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
✅ Universities may again create designated “free speech zones” rather than leaving all outdoor areas open.
✅ Institutions have more discretion in setting boundaries on protests, rallies, and demonstrations.
✅ Certain activities are banned, including camping, tents, masks to conceal identity, amplified sound during class times, and expressive events during the last two weeks of the semester.
This doesn’t mean your rights are gone — but it does mean they’re narrower than before.
So What Does That Mean on Campus?
1. Protests & Peaceful Assembly
You can still stage protests, vigils, or demonstrations, but:
They must usually happen during daytime hours.
They may be confined to designated areas chosen by the school.
Only students and faculty can organize them — outside groups are no longer guaranteed access.
2. Academic Freedom for Faculty
Professors still maintain broad rights in teaching, research, and inviting guest speakers. But universities may place time/place restrictions on events connected to campus facilities.
3. Controversial or Offensive Speech
“Hate speech” is not a legal category in the U.S. Offensive ideas remain protected unless they cross into true threats, targeted harassment, or incitement of violence. Texas law hasn’t changed this principle.
4. Campus Rules & Codes of Conduct
Colleges may try to regulate speech under “harassment” or “civility” policies. Courts have struck down overly broad rules, and these remain challengeable under the First Amendment. But now, state law gives schools a bit more flexibility in enforcement.
Common Misunderstandings About Campus Speech
❌ “All outdoor areas are open for free speech.”Not anymore in Texas — schools can designate zones and limit where protests happen.
❌ “Anyone from the public can protest on campus.”Now restricted — only students, faculty, and employees are guaranteed that right.
❌ “Protests can happen anytime.”SB 2972 allows campuses to shut down expressive activities between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
If You Believe Your Rights Have Been Violated
Here’s what to do if your school goes too far:
✅ 1. Document Everything
Save emails, disciplinary notices, and policies that were cited.
✅ 2. Know Federal vs. State Law
Even under SB 2972, schools cannot ignore the Constitution. Overbroad restrictions may still be unconstitutional.
✅ 3. Push Back Internally
Appeal through the school’s grievance process and quote both the First Amendment and Texas law.
✅ 4. Work With a Civil Rights Attorney
A lawyer can:
Review whether restrictions are lawful.
Challenge unconstitutional speech codes.
File suit if rights are unfairly limited.
Why This Matters in Texas
Texas is at the center of the free speech debate. SB 18 expanded protections, SB 2972 rolled some back, and legal challenges may be on the horizon. For now, universities have more power to set boundaries — but they’re still bound by the Constitution.
Having an attorney who understands both federal protections and Texas-specific rules can help you push back when those boundaries are crossed.
Final Takeaway: Free Speech Still Exists, but It’s Narrower
Students and faculty should remember:
✅ Your speech is protected at public universities.
✅ Schools can now set limits on time, place, and who can speak.
✅ Overly broad or discriminatory restrictions can still be challenged.
You don’t lose your rights on campus. But knowing how Texas law has changed is key to exercising them effectively.
Need Help?
If you believe your First Amendment rights are being restricted under Texas’s new laws, Grable Law can help. We work with students, faculty, and organizations to defend constitutional freedoms and hold institutions accountable.
👉 Reach out today to speak with a civil rights attorney who knows both the federal Constitution and Texas’s campus laws — and who will fight for your voice.
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