By: Murphy H.B. No. 4500
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the protection of expressive rights of student
  organizations at public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.9315, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 51.9315.  PROTECTED EXPRESSION ON CAMPUS. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Benefit" includes:
                     (A)  recognition by or registration with an
  institution of higher education;
                     (B)  the use of an institution of higher
  education's facilities for meetings or speaking purposes;
                     (C)  the use of channels of communication
  controlled by an institution of higher education; and
                     (D)  funding sources made generally available to
  student organizations at an institution of higher education.
               (2)  "Expressive activities" means any speech or
  expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United
  States Constitution or by Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution,
  and includes assemblies, protests, speeches, the distribution of
  written material, the carrying of signs, and the circulation of
  petitions. The term does not include commercial speech.
               (3)  "Expressive rights" means the rights protected by
  the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Section
  8, Article I, Texas Constitution, including freedom of speech,
  freedom of the press, freedom of association, and free exercise of
  religion.
               (4) [(3)]  "Institution of higher education" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
               (5) [(4)]  "Student organization" includes any
  organization that is composed mostly of students enrolled at an
  institution of higher education and that receives a benefit from
  the institution.
         (g-1)  An institution of higher education shall permit a
  student organization formed for the purpose of exercising
  expressive rights to establish and maintain membership and
  leadership qualifications for the organization that further the
  organization's purpose, including by requiring the organization's
  leaders or members to:
               (1)  adhere to or comply with the organization's:
                     (A)  sincerely held beliefs; or
                     (B)  sincere standards of conduct; or
               (2)  be committed to furthering the organization's
  mission or purpose.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.