S 1511 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act (S 1511) strengthens student free speech protections at colleges and universities receiving federal funding. It defines "expressive activity" broadly to include peaceful assembly, protests, distributing literature, and other First Amendment-protected speech, while prohibiting schools from restricting such activities through overly broad speech codes or "free speech zones." The bill requires institutions to clearly disclose their speech policies online and in student handbooks, establishes a complaint process for students who believe their rights were violated, and allows for loss of federal funding if institutions don't comply with the new standards. It applies to public institutions and private institutions receiving federal funds, with exemptions for religiously controlled schools.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 10, 2023 Last action May 10, 2023
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 10, 2023
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
upper
May 10, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors