Great news! The moral of the story is that some laws shouldn’t be laws to begin with—especially when they collide with the U.S. Constitution. Judge David Ezra’s injunction against Texas’ SB 2972 is a reminder that free speech isn’t a privilege granted by administrators or legislators; it’s a right protected by the First Amendment. When lawmakers overreach in the name of “order,” they risk silencing the very democratic expression universities exist to nurture. The courts, in this case, have drawn an important line in defense of both students and democracy itself.
A big thanks to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for intervening.
The injunction is temporary right now. Hope it becomes permanent.
-Angela Valenzuela
Federal judge issues temporary injunction on new law that limits expression on campuses
BY Kelsey Leffingwell Austin
PUBLISHED 11:41 AM CT Oct. 15, 2025
AUSTIN, Texas — On Oct. 14, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra issued a temporary injunction against parts of Texas’ new law that limits expression on campuses.
The University of Texas System’s restrictions on expression, including overnight activities, speakers, sounds and drums, during the semester’s last two weeks will be suspended by the injunction.
In the lawsuit, Ezra argues that the law goes against students’ First Amendment rights.
“Plaintiffs allege that the Overnght Expression Ban and End-of-Term Bans threaten their protected expression,” Ezra wrote.
A lawsuit was filed on Sept. 3 by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) “on behalf of student musicians, journalists, political organizers, and religious students.” The lawsuit aimed to prevent the enforcement of Senate Bill 2972.
SB 2972, which imposes a ban on “expressive activities” at public universities, went into effect on Sept. 1. The bill bans the activities between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The new law, according to FIRE, will grant universities the right to penalize students at night for activities such as wearing political hats, writing an op-ed, attending candlelight vigils and more.
“This law gives campus administrators a blank check to punish speech, and that authority will inevitably be used to target unpopular speech,” said FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh. “Administrators have plenty of ways to prevent disruptive conduct that do not involve such a broad censorship mandate.”
SB 2972, passed in the regular session this year, reversed a 2019 Texas law about free speech on campuses.
The full injunction can be found below.
Federal judge issues temporary injunction on new law that limits expression on campuses
BY Kelsey Leffingwell Austin
PUBLISHED 11:41 AM CT Oct. 15, 2025
 |
| In this Sept. 27, 2012, file photo, students walk through the University of Texas at Austin campus near the school's iconic tower in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) |
AUSTIN, Texas — On Oct. 14, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra issued a temporary injunction against parts of Texas’ new law that limits expression on campuses.
The University of Texas System’s restrictions on expression, including overnight activities, speakers, sounds and drums, during the semester’s last two weeks will be suspended by the injunction.
In the lawsuit, Ezra argues that the law goes against students’ First Amendment rights.
“Plaintiffs allege that the Overnght Expression Ban and End-of-Term Bans threaten their protected expression,” Ezra wrote.
A lawsuit was filed on Sept. 3 by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) “on behalf of student musicians, journalists, political organizers, and religious students.” The lawsuit aimed to prevent the enforcement of Senate Bill 2972.
SB 2972, which imposes a ban on “expressive activities” at public universities, went into effect on Sept. 1. The bill bans the activities between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The new law, according to FIRE, will grant universities the right to penalize students at night for activities such as wearing political hats, writing an op-ed, attending candlelight vigils and more.
“This law gives campus administrators a blank check to punish speech, and that authority will inevitably be used to target unpopular speech,” said FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh. “Administrators have plenty of ways to prevent disruptive conduct that do not involve such a broad censorship mandate.”
SB 2972, passed in the regular session this year, reversed a 2019 Texas law about free speech on campuses.
The full injunction can be found below.
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