Bill > S07536

This bill ensures free speech protections on college and university campuses within New York State by requiring all public and state-chartered colleges to adopt written rules protecting students' First Amendment rights. The legislation mandates that colleges cannot discipline students for speech that would be constitutionally protected outside of campus, and explicitly provides that such protections do not extend to harassment, threats, or intimidation. The bill includes important exceptions for religious institutions and allows colleges to create policies preventing hate speech that might deny students full participation in the educational process, as long as those policies conform to constitutional standards. Notably, the bill creates a legal mechanism for individuals to sue a college if their expressive rights are violated, allowing them to seek injunctive relief, compensatory damages, court costs, and attorneys' fees. This legislation aims to safeguard free speech on college campuses while maintaining reasonable limitations to protect students from harmful speech, providing a legal framework for addressing potential infringements of First Amendment rights in educational settings.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7536