Written for The Texas Observer legislative blog "Floor Pass."
House members considered a pair of bills Wednesday rooted in social conservative ideas about what’s wrong with universities, before briefly delving into a plan to let students access unspent state loan money. The first two got most of their attention.
We mentioned Fort Worth freshman Rep. Matt Krause’s House Bill 360 earlier this session, for its proposal to cut off state money to any school that requires its student groups to let any student join, regardless of their beliefs, status, race, gender and sexual orientation. Before the House Higher Education Committee, Krause’s defense of his bill was in line with what he told the Observer in February.
“We want a bill that allows all organizations to freely assemble and not be forced to accept members they don’t want to,” Krause said. “Even a momentary chill of free speech can do irreparable harm.” Read more.