Ohio House passes law protecting free speech at public colleges, universities

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Zack Pruitt regarding the Ohio House’s passage Wednesday of the Forming Open and Robust University Minds Act, a bill designed to ensure that a college or university that receives state funding may not ban students from engaging in expressive activity in the public, open areas of campus, so long as the student’s conduct is lawful and does not disrupt the functioning of the school:

“Public colleges and universities are meant to be free and open to the exchange of ideas—a place where our future teachers, lawyers, doctors, judges, community leaders, and voters can exercise their constitutionally protected freedom of speech. The FORUM Act ensures that public universities remain places where intellectual diversity flourishes and all students can engage in the exchange of ideas rather than being censored on campus. We commend the Ohio House for protecting students’ First Amendment freedoms and are hopeful for a speedy final vote in the Senate and a quick response from the governor to sign this important legislation.”