From The Texas Tribune · Jessica Priest · · 1m 40s
Texas College Protest Law Faces Federal Challenge
Texas law restricting campus protests after midnight and during finals faces constitutional test in federal court.
In brief
Texas law restricting campus protests after midnight and during finals faces constitutional test in federal court. Texas' Campus Protection Act, which bans protests overnight and during final weeks of term, is challenged as unconstitutional by student groups for overreaching First Amendment protections. Originally…
Texas law restricts campus protests
A Texas law restricting protesting on public college campuses will face a constitutional test Tuesday.
Senate Bill 2972 details
The law requires Texas public colleges to adopt policies barring expressive activity from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. and prohibits amplified sound during final two weeks of term.
Law passed in 2025
Legislators passed Senate Bill 2972 in response to pro-Palestinian protests at colleges that occurred across the state in 2024.
Protest context
Demonstrations intensified after students at Columbia University set up an encampment in April 2024 and later occupied a building.
UT Austin response
Days later, hundreds of students walked out of the University of Texas at Austin to demand the university system divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel.
State Sen. Creighton's stance
State Sen. Brandon Creighton, who would later author SB 2972, praised the response saying the First Amendment does not protect violence or harassment.
Law took effect
The law took effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
Students challenged law
Students and student groups at UT Austin and UT Dallas sued arguing the restrictions on expressive activity overnight and during finals are too broad.
District court ruling
U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra temporarily blocked UT System officials from enforcing the challenged provisions on Oct. 14, 2025.
In short
Texas' Campus Protection Act, which bans protests overnight and during final weeks of term, is challenged as unconstitutional by student groups for overreaching First Amendment protections.
