1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

HB 2472, the so-called FORUM Act, threatens academic freedom and the First Amendment by inserting the state into decisions about speech, expression, and association on college and university campuses. While framed as protecting free speech, this bill invites political interference, chills open inquiry, and exposes public institutions to costly litigation through mandatory monetary damages. Universities function best when ideas can be debated freely without government pressure, retaliation, or fear of lawsuits driven by ideology. HB 2472 risks replacing academic judgment with legislative mandates, discouraging institutions from fostering nuanced discussion, managing campus safety, or upholding inclusive learning environments. Kansas should not police thought or speech through statute, nor should it force campuses into rigid rules that undermine constitutional principles and institutional autonomy. Existing constitutional protections already safeguard free expression without this level of state intrusion. I urge you to oppose HB 2472 and defend genuine free speech by protecting academic independence, constitutional balance, and the open exchange of ideas—without politicizing higher education.