HB1473Introduced in the House of Delegates
Higher educational institutions, public; restrictions on student speech, limitations.
Introduced by Charlie Schmidt, District 77
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Public institutions of higher education; students and campus; restrictions on student speech; limitations. Clarifies the requirements for and limitations on the ability of a public institution of higher education to impose restrictions on the time, place, or manner of student speech that occurs in outdoor areas of the institution's campus and is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States by (i) clarifying the criteria for demonstrating that the restriction is permissible; (ii) prohibiting any public institution of higher education from imposing certain restrictions, punishments, policies, or restraints designed to restrict student speech in ways that violate the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, and staff; and (iii) requiring any public institution of higher education that deems any student speech or assembly unlawful and imposes a restriction on the time, place, or manner of such speech to submit to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education within 45 days of imposing such restriction a report detailing the justification for such restriction, demonstrating how the restriction satisfies the criteria required pursuant to applicable law and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Where it stands
Continued to next session in Education (Voice Vote)
February 11, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.
Bill history
Presented and ordered printed 26103873D
Referred to Committee on Education
Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1473)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
Continued to next session in Education (Voice Vote)
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