Sitting on it until 2030? Well... it won't be the Supreme Court sitting on it until 2030. It will be:
- You can't go to court (usually) on a hypothetical. You usually need someone who has been actually affected. That can't happen until the law actually takes effect (September).
- Then you need a court case, in federal court (probably, since it's a first amendment argument). That has to reach completion, which can take a year or three.
- Then you need an appeal to the district court, and for that appeal to be accepted, and for that court case to run to completion. I have less of a feel for how long that takes, but I would guess at least half a year, maybe longer.
- Then you need an appeal to the Supreme Court, and for it to be accepted, and for the Supreme Court to hear the case and decide. That can take a year.
So, yeah, you're not going to see a final resolution until 2030 or so. That's not because the Supreme Court is sitting on it, though - at least, not most of it.
I think a Texas college or a student of one could bring a facial challenge to this law before it goes into effect. The following two excerpts of S.B. 2972 [1] (the second one consisting of spliced fragments) should be enough to demonstrate that the law would inevitably, not hypothetically, restrict a student's freedom of speech:
> "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
`Each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy detailing... rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities at the institution. The policy must... prohibit... engaging in expressive activities on campus between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.`
In the ideal world, there would be a facial challenge and a temporary restraining order on implementation of the law, pending the challenge being finally decided. I'm just not sure that it will happen that way (or that quickly).
---
"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.
...
Each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy detailing rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities at the institution. The policy must:
...
Prohibit:
...
engaging in expressive activities on campus between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
---
That's pretty clear cut, to be honest. Like the article says, the intent is probably much more limited, but it literally says "any speech or conduct which is protected under the first amendment is banned". That's just really poor drafting indeed.
The intent may be also seen as pro-education: "they're free to protest elsewhere without annoying other students"
fuzzbazz 10 months ago | parent | context | prev | next [–] | on: Brazilian court orders suspension of X
How can you even have democracy without freedom of speech?
How can you freely choose who to vote without free exchange of information?God, this forum is becoming more like reddit every day with folks ignoring commenting rules and assuming bad faith. (of which ,I am doing myself right now.)
this post doesn't even belong here.
34679•5h ago
salynchnew•5h ago
ailun•5h ago
>Update: This article was published on June 5. Since then, Gov. Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 2972 into law. It will take effect Sept. 1.
https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB2972/2025
34679•3h ago