Bill > H4960

This bill, the Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act, amends South Carolina law to protect free speech and expression on public college and university campuses. It defines key terms, such as "campus," "campus community," and "materially and substantially disrupt," and establishes that outdoor campus areas are open for expressive activities by members of the campus community, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The bill also prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against student organizations based on the content or viewpoint of their expression or beliefs, and provides a means of redress for violations through private lawsuits. The bill aims to ensure that public universities in South Carolina maintain free and open debate and deliberations by students, whether on or off campus.