Be Encouraged! What a difference a Year makes!

The 2022 session of the Georgia General Assembly convened January 10th and ended April 4th at midnight. Some observers breathed a sigh of relief, others were exasperated. But perhaps the rigors of the pandemic catapulted into view deep problems with school curricula and the tension on college campuses. That could be why H.B. 1, which was introduced January 29, 2021, a year ago, was resurrected and passed the last day of this session to protect the right of students to freely speak and express themselves on campuses of colleges and universities.

Passed! Gag Orders Prohibited at Georgia Colleges and Universities
H.B. 1 Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM), prefiled by Representative Josh Bonner November 16, 2020, was officially introduced January 29, 2021. It went to the House Higher Education Committee that favorably reported it March 5, 2021. On March 31, 2021 it was sent back to the Higher Education committee, where it languished until February 10, 2022, when it was … again … favorably reported and passed the House 93-62. It went to the Senate Judiciary committee which favorably reported it March 25, 2022, but it was tabled April 1, 2022, then taken off the table April 4, 2022 and passed the Senate 33-18. The House sent it to the Governor on April 6, 2022 and it becomes law July 1, 2022, unless it is vetoed. That arduous, year-long battle was caused by opponents of free speech and free expression.

H.B. 1 in a Nut-Shell

• It protects expressive activity which consists of speech and other conduct protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It includes, but is not limited to, lawful verbal, written, audio-visual, or electronic expression that communicates ideas, including all forms of peaceful assembly, literature distribution, carrying signs, circulating petitions, demonstrations, protests, and speeches, including those by guest speakers.
• Such conduct would not be considered a substantial disruption if it is protected under the Georgia Constitution or the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

To read a summary of legislation from this year’s Georgia General Assembly session, please click here.