Americans For Prosperity Applauds Passage of Free Speech Legislation
ATLANTA – Americans for Prosperity – Georgia (AFP-GA) today applauded House passage of HB 1, the Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act.
AFP-GA Deputy State Director Tony West released the following statement:
“Free speech is a fundamental right, and nowhere is that right as crucial as on college campuses. According to research, there are at least eight public universities in Georgia with ambiguous speech policies that too easily encourage administrative abuse. HB 1 will strengthen protections for free speech. We urge the Senate to pass this legislation again as it did in 2020, and send this legislation to the governor’s desk.”
Background:
- HB 1 provides robust protections for students and universities by:
- Eliminating “free speech zones” that restrict where students can speak;
- Protecting the right of all people to engage in lawful expression;
- Requiring that students be educated regarding their free speech rights/responsibilities;
- Requiring that administrators, campus police, etc. understand their duties regarding free expression on campus;
- Protecting universities from unnecessary litigation and respecting institutional autonomy and academic freedom.
