Bill > H3582

This bill, known as the Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act, aims to protect free speech rights on public college campuses in South Carolina by establishing comprehensive guidelines for student expression. The legislation defines key terms and mandates that outdoor campus areas be considered public forums where students can engage in expressive activities like peaceful protests, speeches, literature distribution, and petition circulation without undue restrictions. Public institutions of higher learning are prohibited from creating "free speech zones" and cannot deny benefits or discriminate against student organizations based on their religious, political, or ideological viewpoints. The bill requires universities to develop and publicly share policies protecting free expression, train staff on these policies, and submit annual reports to the Commission on Higher Education detailing any incidents that may have impeded free speech. Students or student organizations who believe their free speech rights have been violated can seek legal recourse, including injunctive relief and monetary damages. The legislation emphasizes that First Amendment protections should apply fully on college campuses, viewing them as critical spaces for the open exchange of ideas, and ensures that any restrictions on speech must be content-neutral, narrowly tailored, and serve a significant institutional interest.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3582&session=126&summary=B