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SB 1800

SB 1800 - This act creates provisions relating to expressive activity at postsecondary educational institutions. The act defines a "postsecondary educational institution" as including any approved Missouri public institution of postsecondary education under the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. Every student of a postsecondary educational institution who receives state student financial aid shall be deemed by such receipt to have agreed to observe the rules and regulations promulgated by the governing authority of the postsecondary educational institution. Subject to administrative review and hearing procedures described in the act, any student who receives state student financial aid in connection with his or her matriculation and who, while on the campus of the postsecondary educational institution, engages in materially and substantially disruptive conduct and is convicted of a crime or found by the institution to have violated any code of conduct as a result of such disruptive behavior shall be ineligible for state student financial aid for a period not to exceed the ensuing two academic years. Each postsecondary educational institution shall adopt a policy detailing students' rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities at the institution. The policy shall allow students to engage in expressive activities on campus, including by responding to the expressive activities of others, and to invite speakers to campus. The policy shall prohibit using a device to amplify sound while engaging in expressive activities on campus during class hours. The policy shall further prohibit, during the last two weeks of a semester or term, engaging in certain expressive activities described in the act, such as using a device to amplify sound or using a drum or other percussive equipment. The policy shall also prohibit camping or erecting tents on campus; wearing a mask with the intent to obstruct law enforcement or intimidate others; lowering the institution's United States flag or Missouri state flag with the intent to raise the flag of another nation or a flag representing an organization or group of people; or engaging in expressive activities on campus between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. The policy shall establish disciplinary sanctions for students, student organizations, or employees who unduly interfere with the expressive activities of others on campus or violate an institution policy or state law. The policy shall include a grievance procedure; require students to present proof of identity on request by a peace officer; be approved by a majority vote of the institution's governing board before final adoption; and be posted on the institution's website. OLIVIA SHANNON

2026 Regular Session

Missouri SB 1800 ties state financial aid to students’ agreement to campus rules and allows aid denial for up to two years after disruptive conduct.

Second Read and Referred S Education Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1800

Summary of SB 1800 (Session 2026, Missouri)

SB 1800 addresses expressive activity at postsecondary educational institutions and ties state student financial aid to adherence with campus rules. The bill applies to all approved Missouri public institutions of postsecondary education under the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program.

Purpose and intent

  • To regulate expressive activity on college campuses and establish a standardized framework for campus policies.
  • To condition state student financial aid eligibility on students’ agreement to and compliance with institutional rules regarding campus conduct and expressive activity.

Key provisions

  1. Consent to campus rules through financial aid receipt

    • Every student who receives state student financial aid is deemed to have agreed to observe the institution’s rules and regulations.
    • This agreement is implicit by accepting state financial aid.

  2. Disruptive conduct and aid eligibility

    • If a student engages in materially and substantially disruptive conduct on campus and is:
      • Convicted of a crime, or
      • Found by the institution to have violated its code of conduct as a result of such disruptive behavior
    • The student becomes ineligible for state student financial aid for up to the next two academic years, subject to administrative review and hearing procedures outlined in the act.

  3. Institutional expressive activity policy requirements

    • Each postsecondary institution must adopt a policy detailing students’ rights and responsibilities regarding expressive activities.
    • Policies must:
      • Allow expressive activities on campus and the right to respond to others’ expressive activities.
      • Permit inviting speakers to campus.
      • Prohibit amplifying devices during class hours in expressive activities.
      • Prohibit certain activities during the last two weeks of a semester/term (e.g., using amplified sound or drumming/percussive equipment).
      • Prohibit camping or erecting tents on campus.
      • Prohibit wearing a mask with the intent to obstruct law enforcement or intimidate others.
      • Prohibit lowering the institution’s flags (U.S. or Missouri) with the intent to raise another flag or organizational flag.
      • Prohibit expressing activities on campus between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
    • Policies must establish disciplinary sanctions for students, student organizations, or employees who unduly interfere with others’ expressive activities, violate institutional policy, or violate state law.
    • Policies must include a grievance procedure.
    • Policies must require proof of identity when requested by a peace officer.
    • Policies must be approved by a majority vote of the institution’s governing board prior to final adoption.
    • Policies must be posted on the institution’s website.

Who is affected

  • Students at Missouri public postsecondary institutions participating in the state’s Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program (state student aid recipients).
  • Institutions themselves, which must implement and publish the required expressive activity policies.
  • University/governing boards, which must approve policies by majority vote.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The act requires administrative review and hearing procedures for determining ineligibility for state aid due to disruptive conduct.
  • Each institution must formulate, approve, and publish a policy on expressive activities prior to final adoption and posting.
  • The policy must be posted on the institution’s website, ensuring public accessibility.

Potential impacts

  • Increased accountability for students receiving state financial aid regarding campus conduct.
  • Formalized and potentially stricter handling of expressive activities on campus, with specific time-bound and device-use restrictions.
  • Clear, centralized requirements for campus policies may standardize how expressive-activity rights and restrictions are implemented across Missouri public institutions.
  • Institutions bear administrative responsibilities to develop, approve, and publish compliant policies, including grievance procedures and identity verification provisions.

Note: The summary reflects the bill text as provided and does not incorporate interpretations beyond the stated provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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