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SB5607 • 2026
Requiring free speech information for students at institutions of higher education.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Free speech info./higher ed.
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Free speech info./higher ed.
AN ACT Relating to free speech information for students at 1 institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 2 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that freedom of 5 speech is central to a college's or university's central functions of 6 teaching, learning, research, and scholarship. Moreover, the 7 legislature finds that expression of the widest range of viewpoints 8 should be encouraged, free from institutional orthodoxy and internal 9 or external coercion. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature 10 that all students at the state's institutions of higher education 11 participate in a course of instruction about the rights afforded to 12 individuals through the first amendment and the institutions' 13 policies to encourage the practice of free speech on the college's or 14 university's campuses.15 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 16 RCW to read as follows: 17 Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, each institution of 18 higher education shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the 19 institution of higher education presents, and each incoming student 20 S-0173.1 SENATE BILL 5607 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senators Warnick and Hasegawa Read first time 01/31/25. Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development. p. 1 SB 5607 participates in, a free speech fundamentals workshop. Each 1 institution of higher education is encouraged to present the workshop 2 during student orientation or as early as possible in the academic 3 year. The scope of the workshop must include: Instruction on each 4 institution of higher education's academic freedom and free speech 5 policies; potential examples of violations of free speech policies; 6 and the types of speech that are protected. Each institution of 7 higher education is strongly encouraged to use course material 8 developed in consultation with experts in constitutional law and 9 freedom of speech. 10 --- END --- p. 2 SB 5607