The US Protest Law Tracker follows state and federal legislation introduced since January 2017 that restricts the right to peaceful assembly. For more information, visit our Analysis of US Anti-Protest Bills page.
Latest updates: Mar. 20, 2025 (Texas), Mar. 19, 2025 (Alabama, Iowa), Mar. 18, 2025 (Missouri)
43 entries matching in provided filters in 20 states and 1 federal. Clear all filters
US Federal
S 937: Barring student protesters from federal loans and loan forgiveness
Would exclude student protesters from federal financial aid and loan forgiveness if they commit any crime at a campus protest. The bill would cover someone convicted of “any offense” under “any Federal or State law” that is “related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest” at a college or university. As such, a student convicted of even a nonviolent, state law misdemeanor at a campus protest, such as failing to disperse, would be deemed ineligible for federal student loans; they would also be ineligible for having existing federal loans forgiven, cancelled, waived or modified. The sponsor of the bill said it was a response to pro-Palestine protests at colleges and universities.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: pending
Introduced 11 Mar 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
HR 9158: Revoking visas of foreign student protesters
Would require an institution of higher education to immediately report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) if a student holding a J-1 or F-1 nonimmigrant visa “has participated in activity in support of, or as an endorsement of, a foreign terrorist organization.” The Secretary of State shall revoke the visa if such participation is established and DHS shall initiate removal proceedings. The sponsors of the bill stated that it was in response to Pro-Palestine protests on college campuses and elsewhere in the United States.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 1 Aug 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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US Federal
S 4756 / HR 9117: Revoking visas and deporting foreign protesters
Would immediately cancel the visa of any alien convicted of a crime related to “conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education” or at a facility operated by a religious institution; involving the defacement, vandalism, or destruction of a federal memorial or monument; or involving the intentional obstruction of any highway, road, bridge, or tunnel. Any alien who is convicted for one of these crimes shall be removed from the U.S. within 60 days of their conviction.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 24 Jul 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Traffic Interference
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US Federal
HR 9102: Barring Student Protesters from Federal Student Loans
Would ban “a student who is convicted of a hate crime under State of Federal law for conduct that occurred during a protest at an institution of higher education that disrupts the normal campus functions” from receiving a federal student loan or participating in a federal student loan forgiveness program. The bill defines hate crime to include a federal hate crime under section 18 U.SC. 249, but does not define other federal or state hate crimes that would also be covered. As such, if a state enacted a hate crime law that included nonviolent conduct a conviction under that state law that could trigger the ban on federal student loan assistance under the bill.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 23 Jul 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
HR 8883: Potential penalties for universities based on protest policies
Would make federal accreditation of colleges and universities—and thus their access to federal funds—contingent on the institution’s policies on responding to protests. Under the “No Tax Dollars for College Encampments Act of 2024,” universities would have to regularly disclose how they respond to campus “incidents of civil disturbance,” defined to include “a demonstration, riot, or strike,” and their accreditation would be linked to such policies and practices. The bill sponsor cited encampments and other campus demonstrations by protesters for Palestinian human rights as motivation for the bill.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 28 Jun 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
HR 8468: BARRING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR CAMPUS PROTESTERS
Would disqualify certain campus protesters from federal student loan forgiveness programs. Under the bill, a student or faculty member who is expelled or fired from a higher education institution for a protest-related reason is not eligible for any loan forgiveness program under federal law. Covered reasons for expulsion or firing comprise “creating a public disturbance,” “disorderly conduct,” “trespassing,” “hate crime,” and violating provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 related to discrimination. The bill’s sponsor cited pro-Palestine demonstrations on college campuses as motivation for the legislation.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 21 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Trespass, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
S 4295: Barring federal funds for universities that don’t clear protest camps
Would bar federal funding for colleges and universities that fail to remove prolonged protest encampments. Under the “Encampments or Endowments Act,” if the Secretary of Education determined that a university permitted a protest encampment on campus for more than seven days, and camp participants had “attempted to interfere with a core function of the institution of higher education” or “obstructed the ingress or egress of students,” then the university would be ineligible to receive federal financial assistance for five years. The barred assistance would include institutional as well as student aid such as Pell grants and federal loans. Disqualified schools would have to provide grant-based aid to students to make up for the federal aid they would have otherwise received, and if they failed to do so, they would have to pay a tax equal to 50 percent of their endowment’s assets. The sponsor cited nationwide campus protests for Palestinian human rights as the motivation for the bill.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Camping, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
S 4302: Barring federal financial aid for students convicted of protest-related offenses
Would prohibit federal financial aid for students who are convicted of protest-related offenses while participating in a campus protest. The prohibition on federal financial aid under the “No Higher education Assistance for Mobs of Antisemitic and terrorist Sympathizing Students (No HAMAS) Act" would apply to students who are convicted under federal or state law of trespassing, unlawful assembly, rioting, or damaging property while protesting at a college or university. Such students would be ineligible for any federal grant, loan, or work study assistance. The sponsor and cosponsors of the bill have pointed to nationwide campus protests for Palestinian human rights as their motivation, however the legislation could cover students who are convicted of nonviolent offenses such as trespass while demonstrating for any cause while on a college or university campus.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot, Trespass, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
HR 8322: Revoking visas of foreign student protesters
Would revoke the F, J, or M student visas of students who are “arrested for rioting or unlawful protest,” or “arrested while establishing, participating in, or promoting an encampment” at an institute of higher education. The bill’s sponsor cited foreign students who have participated in campus protests for Palestinian human rights.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot, Camping
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US Federal
HR 8321: Mandatory community service in Gaza for campus protesters
Would require anyone convicted of “unlawful activity” on a college or university campus “after October 7, 2023,” to be “assigned” to the Gaza Strip “for the purpose of providing community service” for a minimum of six months. While the bill would apply to individuals convicted of “unlawful activity”, the sponsor indicated that the bill is targeting individuals involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations and encampments on college campuses.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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US Federal
S 4240 / HR 8242: Barring student loan forgiveness for campus protesters
Would bar federal student loan forgiveness for individuals convicted of protest-related offenses on a college or university campus. The “No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act” would exclude an individual from the federal government’s forgiveness, cancellation, or modification of a student loan if they are convicted of “any offense” under federal or state law “related to” the individual’s conduct at a protest occurring at an institution of higher education. As such, if adopted, individuals convicted of even minor, nonviolent state law offenses such as trespass or unlawful assembly would be ineligible for loan forgiveness. Congressional sponsors of the bill cited nationwide campus protests related to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as impetus for the legislation.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 2 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Limit on Public Benefits
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US Federal
HR 8221: Deportation of foreigners charged with crimes related to protests
Would provide for the deportation of a foreign individual “charged” with “any crime” related to their participation in “pro-terrorism or antisemitism rallies or demonstrations.” Under the bill, a foreign individual merely charged—not necessarily convicted—with an offense as minor as a misdemeanor could face deportation if the offense was “related” to their participation in a protest deemed “pro-terrorism or antisemiti[c]" in nature. The sponsor of the bill, titled “Hamas Supporters Have No Home Here Act,” cited the involvement of foreign students in campus protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 1 May 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Alaska
HB 295: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters at the University of Alaska. The bill requires the University to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "protests or demonstrations that materially and substantially infringe on the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity." Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who is twice found "to have infringed on the expressive rights of another," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 24 Feb 2020.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Arizona
HB 2880: Banning protest encampments on campus
Would bar protest encampments on the campuses of state colleges and universities without prior authorization. Under the bill, individuals or groups that establish an unauthorized “encampment” would no longer be lawfully present on campus for the purpose of speech protections under Arizona law; they would be criminally liable to prosecution for trespass and damaging public property; and they would be liable for “direct and indirect costs” of any damage “that resulted from the individual’s intentional or negligent conduct relating” to the encampment. The bill defines “encampment” as “temporary shelter” installed on campus and used to stay overnight or “for a prolonged period of time.” The bill would require colleges and universities to order individuals to dismantle and vacate unauthorized encampments; if the individuals refuse to comply, the institution would be required to take disciplinary action and report the individuals to local law enforcement for trespassing. The bill's sponsor said that it was motivated by pro-Palestine protests on college campuses.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: pending
Introduced 12 Feb 2025; Approved by House 3 March 2025
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Trespass, Camping
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Arkansas
SB 118: Criminal penalties for school and university campus protesters
Would create a new criminal sanction that could be applied to peaceful protesters on public university as well as high school grounds. The bill contains 17 broadly-worded "guarantees of free speech," including a provision that "a student shall not significantly obstruct the freedom of other speakers" to state their own views on campus. The bill provides that anyone who negligently violates any of the "rights" provided for in the bill is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, which in Arkansas is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $2,500. Accordingly, a student who was deemed to have "significantly obstructed" the speech of a controversial campus speaker, for example, could be charged with a serious misdemeanor. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 17 Jan 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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California
AB 1358: New restrictions on campus protests
Would impose new limits on protests at public and private institutions of higher education. The bill would require all institutions of higher education in the state to adopt a policy prohibiting protests and demonstrations that "material and substantially infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" and make protesters involved in such assemblies "subject to sanction." As a result, protests in public areas of campus that, for instance, made it difficult to hear a speech, would be banned and its participants liable to penalties. This behavior would be subject to a "range of disciplinary sanctions," including "suspensions, firings, and expulsions." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 22 Feb 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Georgia
HB 602: Stripping financial aid from student protesters
Would bar state financial aid from college and university students who violate campus rules or are convicted of a crime related to a “disruptive” protest on campus. Under the bill, a student who is convicted of a crime or is determined to have violated their school’s code of conduct as a result of engaging in “materially and substantially disruptive conduct” on campus, would be immediately denied state funds for loans, grants, and scholarships. The bill defines “materially and substantially disruptive conduct” broadly to include conduct that would “hinder” another person’s expressive activity or prevent a “lawful meeting” or “gathering,” including by creating “loud or sustained noise,” “occupying or materially disrupting” access to campus facilities, or merely violating campus “time, place, and manner” rules for protests. As such, for instance, a student who was disciplined for participating in a noisy protest outside of a speaking event in violation of campus rules could have their state financial aid revoked. The threat of losing financial aid could have a broader chilling effect on campus protests.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: pending
Introduced 24 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Georgia
SB 339: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
**Note: SB 339 was signed into law following amendments that removed the most restrictive provisions.** As originally introduced, Senate Bill 339 would have created mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The introduced bill required public universities and community colleges to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction individuals involved in "protests or demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on campus. Additionally, the introduced bill required administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who was twice "found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. Amendments to the bill removed the provisions related to specific sanctions, prior to the bill's passage by the Senate.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: enacted with improvements
Introduced 19 Jan 2018; Governor Deal signed it 8 May 2018
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Illinois
HB 3409: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters at public universities or community colleges in the state. The bill requires these public educational institutions to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "protests and demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity." Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year any student who is twice found to be responsible "for infringing on the expressive rights of others," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 22 Feb 2021.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Illinois
HB 2280: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. Like HB 2939, introduced in the 2017-2018 session, HB 2280 requires public universities and community colleges to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "protests or demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on campus. Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who is twice "found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 Feb 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Illinois
HB 2939: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill requires public universities and community colleges to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "protests or demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on campus. Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who is twice "found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Feb 2017.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Kansas
HB 2285: Mandatory Sanctions for Campus Protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters at community colleges, technical colleges, and municipal universities in the state of Kansas. The bill requires these institutions to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "protests or demonstrations that materially and substantially infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity." Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who has "twice been found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others" such as during a protest of a campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Feb 2021; Died in committee 23 May 2022
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Louisiana
HB 269: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would have created mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill prohibits "protests and demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on college campuses. In addition, the bill requires public colleges to suspend for at least one year or expel any student found responsible for infringing the expressive rights of others, including by protesting. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 30 Mar 2017; Vetoed by Governor Edwards 27 June 2017
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Michigan
HB 4436: New limits on campus protests
Would impose new limits on protests at public colleges and universities. The bill would require all public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy prohibiting protests and demonstrations that "substantially and materially infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity," and make protesters involved in such assemblies "subject to sanction." As a result, protests in public areas of campus that, for instance, made it difficult to hear a speech, would be banned and its participants liable to penalties. The policy would apply not only to students and faculty but any other person "lawfully present on campus." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Apr 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Michigan
SB 350: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill requires community and public colleges to prohibit and subject to sanction any "protests or demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on campus. The bill requires that college administrators suspend for at least one year or expel any student who is twice "found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others," for instance through a protest or demonstration. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 2 May 2017.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Minnesota
HF 1383: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill provides that the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must adopt a policy of sanctioning anyone under an institution's jurisdiction who "materially and substantially interferes with the free expression of others." According to the bill, the policy must include that any student who has twice been found guilty of "infringing the expressive rights of others"--for instance, through a protest--will be suspended for at least one year or expelled. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 18 Feb 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Missouri
HB 442: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would expand the state's 2015 "Campus Free Expression Act" to include provisions requiring universities to impose specific, mandatory penalties on certain campus protesters. The bill--identical to HB 2423, introduced in 2018--provides that any student who is twice found responsible for "infringing upon the expressive rights of others" should be suspended for at least one year or expelled. The bill also calls for a "range of disciplinary sanctions" to be imposed on anyone under the university's jurisdiction who "materially and substantially interferes with the free expression of others." As in HB 2423, HB 442 also waives Missouri's immunity from federal lawsuits related to the law, such that a speaker or student group who feels the law is insufficiently enforced could sue the state and/or university in federal or state court. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Jan 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Missouri
HB 2423: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would expand the state's 2015 "Campus Free Expression Act," which banned so-called campus "free speech zones," to include provisions requiring universities to impose specific, mandatory penalties on certain campus protesters. The bill provides that any student who is twice found responsible for "infringing upon the expressive rights of others" should be suspended for at least one year or expelled. The bill also calls for a "range of disciplinary sanctions" to be imposed on anyone under the university's jurisdiction who "materially and substantially interferes with the free expression of others." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 Feb 2018.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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New Jersey
A 5731: Mandatory penalties for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill requires all public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy that bars members of the campus community from engaging in conduct that "materially and substantially disrupts another person's expressive activity or infringes on the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity." Under the required policy, any member of the campus community that has twice materially and substantially disrupted the expressive rights of others--such as by protesting a controversial speaker--must be given a minimum punishment of a one-term suspension. If a lesser punishment is imposed, the institution has to submit an explanation in writing to the institution's Committee on Free Expression. The bill also requires that "a range of disciplinary sanctions" be imposed for anyone under the jurisdiction of the institution who materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 23 Aug 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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New York
A 2309: Mandatory Sanctions for Campus Protesters
Would create new mandatory penalties that could be applied against nonviolent protesters at all state and city colleges and universities in New York. Under the bill, a student that "materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others" would face a minimum one week suspension for the first offense; a minimum two week suspension for a second offense; a minimum one semester suspension for a third offense; and expulsion for a fourth offense. As such, a student protester that was deemed to interrupt a speaker at an event would be required to be suspended.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 25 Jan 2023.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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New York
A 8342: Mandatory Sanctions for Campus Protesters
Would create new mandatory penalties that could be applied against nonviolent protesters at all state and city colleges and universities in New York. Under the bill, a student that "materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others" would face a minimum one week suspension for the first offense; a minimum two week suspension for a second offense; a minimum one semester suspension for a third offense; and expulsion for a fourth offense. As such, a student protester that was deemed to interrupt a speaker at an event would be required to be suspended. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 20 Oct 2021.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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North Carolina
HB 333: New penalties for campus protesters
Would require that a student who is found to have engaged in certain activity during a protest on a public university campus both be expelled and have their state financial aid revoked for at least one academic period. Covered activity includes anyone who "unlawfully write[s] or scribble[s] on, mark[s], deface[s], besmear[s], or injure[s] the walls of any public building," statue, or monument, as well as anyone who willfully damages public or private property of any kind on campus. As such, a student could be automatically expelled and lose financial aid for chalking a wall during a protest. Eligibility for readmission and reinstatement of aid would be based on restitution for the property damage committed by the student. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 17 Mar 2021.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Oregon
SB 540: Mandatory expulsion for college students convicted of rioting
Would require that public universities and community colleges expel a student who is convicted of participating in a riot. The bill expired with the end of the 2017 legislative session. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 9 Jan 2017.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Riot
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Pennsylvania
HB 2351: Barring financial aid for student protesters who commit certain crimes
Would bar state financial aid to students convicted of certain protest-related offenses. The bill requires that the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency deny all forms of financial assistance to any student who is convicted of offenses including trespass at an educational facility, government building, religious facility, or the grounds “adjacent to and owned or occupied by” such an entity. The bill’s sponsors cited protesters for Palestinian rights who occupied buildings on college and university campuses as motivation for the bill.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 14 Jun 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Trespass, Limit on Public Benefits
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Pennsylvania
HB 2352: New criminal penalties for protesters in or near academic and government buildings
Would create a new felony offense, “institutional trespass,” that could cover individuals who engage in disruptive protests in certain public or private locations. Under the bill, it is unlawful to enter an educational facility, government building, religious facility, or the grounds “adjacent to and owned or occupied by” such an entity, with a prohibited purpose, including “disrupting the work or operation of the occupant.” The offense is a third degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000. The bill’s sponsors cited protesters for Palestinian rights who occupied buildings on college and university campuses as motivation for the bill.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 10 Jun 2024.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Trespass
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South Carolina
HB 5045: New penalties for non-student protesters on school and college campuses
Would make it a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine, for a person who is not a student to "willfully interfere with, disrupt, or disturb the normal operations of a school or college" by entering the grounds of an educational institution without permission; being "loud or boisterous" after being instructed not to be; refusing to vacate a building, facility, or grounds of a public or private education facility after being directed to do so; engaging in "sitting, kneeling, lying down, or inclining" so as to obstruct an ingress after being told not to; or disrupting teaching or engaging in conduct that disturbs the peace at an educational institution or grounds adjacent to it. The bill would not only cover members of the public, but also faculty, staff, and affiliates of the educational institution who are not students. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 29 Jan 2020.
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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South Carolina
SB 33: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill requires public universities and community colleges to adopt a policy prohibiting and subjecting to sanction any "[p]rotests and demonstrations that materially and substantially infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity" on campus. Additionally, the bill requires administrators to suspend for at least one year or expel any student who is twice "found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights of others," such as through a protest of a campus speaker. The bill also waives South Carolina's immunity from federal lawsuits related to the law, such that a speaker or student group who feels the law is insufficiently enforced could sue the state and/or university in federal or state court. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 Jan 2019.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, State Liability
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Texas
HB 3061: Heightened penalties for masked protesters
Would increase the penalty for protest-related offenses if committed by someone wearing a mask or other disguise to conceal their identity while “congregating with other individuals who were disguised or masked.” Under the bill, the penalty for trespass, “disorderly conduct,” and “riot” would be one degree more severe if committed by a group in which some individuals wore masks. The bill provides an exemption to the penalty enhancement for masks worn during Halloween, a masquerade ball, or “similar celebration,” but not for avoiding retaliation for political speech. “Disorderly conduct” and “riot” are broadly defined under Texas law. Protesters who make “unreasonable noise” in public, for instance, may be charged with “disorderly conduct”; under the bill, such protesters could face significant jail time rather than a fine if they were masked. “Trespass” in Texas also carries significant penalties if committed on college campuses, "critical infrastructure," or other select locations, such that peaceful protesters who trespassed on a college campus could face felony rather than misdemeanor penalties if they were masked to avoid retaliation.
(
See full text of bill here)
Status: pending
Introduced 19 Feb 2025.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Face Covering, Infrastructure, Riot, Trespass
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Texas
HB 3599: New potential felony penalties for "terroristic" protests
Would create a new felony offense, "threatened terroristic violence," that could cover peaceful protesters. Under the bill, a person commits the offense if she "threatens to commit" any crime involving violence to property or persons, with a particular intent, including the intent to "influence the conduct or activities" of a government entity. Without a requirement that the "threat" convey a serious intention to imminently commit an unlawful act of violence, the offense could cover protected speech by peaceful protesters who are seeking policy change or other governmental redress. The offense would be a third degree felony, punishable by at least 2 and up to 10 years in prison. The bill incorporates the offense into other parts of Texas law as well, including the Education Code, creating the potential for student protesters to face disciplinary action based on their commission in protest activity deemed to be a "threatened terroristic violence." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 10 Mar 2021.
Issue(s): Campus Protests, Terrorism
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Texas
HB 2100: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college and university campuses. The bill was amended after it was introduced, to require public colleges and universities to adopt a policy establishing disciplinary sanctions for students or student groups who "materially and substantially interfere with the rights of others to engage in, observe, or listen to expressive activities on campus." "Materially and substantially interfere" is not defined. According to the requisite policy, any student found to have twice interfered with another's "expressive activities," for instance through a protest, must be suspended for at least one semester. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 8 Mar 2019; Approved by House 30 April 2019
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Wisconsin
AB 444: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would impose mandatory disciplinary measures on student protesters in certain cases. The bill requires that the University of Wisconsin's Board of Regents adopt a policy that includes a range of disciplinary sanctions for anyone under an institution's jurisdiction who engages in "violent or other disorderly conduct that materially and substantially disrupts the free expression of others." The bill further requires universities in the state system to suspend for at least one semester any student "who has twice been found responsible for interfering with the expressive rights of others." If a student is found responsible for such interference a third time, they must be expelled. As a result, rowdy protests in public areas of campus that, for instance, made it difficult to hear a speech, would be banned and its participants liable to penalties. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 13 Sep 2019; Approved by House on 11 February 2020
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Wisconsin
AB 299: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would impose mandatory disciplinary measures on student protesters in certain cases. The bill requires that students who engage in "violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, obscene, unreasonably loud, or other disorderly conduct that interferes with the free expression of others" on Wisconsin college or university campuses be compelled to attend a mandatory disciplinary hearing. The bill also requires campus authorities to suspend for a minimum of one semester or expel a student who interferes more than once with another's free speech, for instance by protesting a controversial campus speaker. (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 5 May 2017; Approved by Assembly 21 June 2017
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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Wyoming
HB 0137: Mandatory sanctions for campus protesters
Would create mandatory disciplinary sanctions that could be applied to peaceful protesters on college campuses. The bill requires the University of Wyoming and community colleges to adopt a "free speech protection policy" that includes the mandatory suspension for at least one year or expulsion of any student who is twice found responsible for "infringing upon the expressive rights of others." The bill also calls for a "range of disciplinary sanctions" to be imposed on anyone under the university's jurisdiction who "materially and substantially interferes with the free expression of others." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 12 Feb 2018; Failed in House 16 Feb
Issue(s): Campus Protests
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