S-0174.1
SENATE BILL 5608
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senators Warnick, Hasegawa, and Holy
Read first time 01/31/25. Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.
AN ACT Relating to adopting free speech policy statements at public institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that freedom of expression principles are required for a free society. Recently, controversial speech has been met, not with competing ideas, but with attempts to silence the speakers. The legislature agrees with Justice Brandeis that "the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence," and with Justice Kennedy that "the remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true." The legislature further finds that the greatest breeding ground for the principles of freedom of expression are our institutions of higher education. Therefore, in order to promote and protect principles of freedom of expression, the legislature intends to require its institutions of higher education to adopt the Chicago principles as presented by the University of Chicago's committee on freedom of expression.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows: