Columbus, OH – Today the Ohio General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1, a harmful anti-free speech bill that strips public universities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and creates overly-broad content regulations and restrictions. Introduced during the previous 135th General Assembly as Senate Bill 83, this legislation – coined the Higher Education Destruction Act by opponents – passed the House by a vote of 58 to 34 during a floor vote on Wednesday, March 19. Following the addition of amendments, Senate Bill 1 then passed the Senate by a vote of 20 to 11 during a floor concurrence vote today.
The bill now moves to Governor DeWine’s desk, where he will have 10 days to sign it into law once received. The ACLU of Ohio strongly urges Governor DeWine to veto Senate Bill 1 and protect academic freedom and DEI programs on our college campuses.
The following statement can be attributed to ACLU of Ohio ACLU of Ohio Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick:
“We are incredibly disappointed by the Ohio General Assembly’s direct attack on our public universities and colleges through the passage of Senate Bill 1. As students nationwide witness the ongoing assaults against their First Amendment rights, it is disheartening to see Ohio’s own legislators follow suit in this dangerous pattern of stifling political discourse. By dismantling DEI structures, Senate Bill 1 sends a clear, harmful message to students that their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are not welcome in Ohio. Further, the exceedingly vague and contradictory language regarding the banning of so-called “controversial beliefs or policies” creates a slippery slope for faculty and administration. This could lead to faculty avoiding any such topics in classrooms for fear of retaliation. Institutions of higher education must remain places where academic freedom and diversity can foster – not be censored. The ACLU of Ohio urges Governor DeWine to veto Senate Bill 1 and protect free speech on Ohio campuses. We remain steadfast in our commitment to First Amendment rights and are ready to explore all options for next steps.”
