ALEC Policy Champion Protects Free Speech Against Indoctrination and Suppression at Idaho Universities

ALEC is excited to recognize another policy champion from Idaho this year, Sen. Ben Toews, for his work defending free speech by protecting Idaho’s colleges and universities from forced indoctrination and ideological compliance. Earlier this year, Sen. Toews — who also serves as an ALEC State Chair for Idaho — sponsored SB 1198, which safeguards the First Amendment rights of students and faculty by allowing them to speak freely without fear of punishment or retribution.

SB 1198 follows several of ALEC’s model policies on free speech. First, it’s consistent with ALEC’s Free Speech in Higher Education Act, which prohibits public institutions of higher education from establishing, maintaining, or supporting bias response teams or bias reporting systems. Bias reporting systems allow students, faculty, and staff to report their peers for what they deem to be offensive speech, even though it is constitutionally protected.

SB 1198 is also consistent with ALEC’s Freedom from Indoctrination Act, which defends students’ right to graduate from public institutions of higher education without having to take Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It also ensures faculty and staff are not forced to attend DEI training in order to work at the college or university.

Lastly, the bill is consistent with ALEC’s SCOTUS Anti-Discrimination Implementation Act by keeping institutions from granting preferential treatment in admissions or hiring based on race, sex, or ethnicity. Instead, it guarantees that Idaho’s colleges and universities adhere to a colorblind and constitutionally sound approach, in line with Supreme Court precedent.

Idaho has already taken significant steps this year to protect free speech on its college campuses by passing the Protecting Free Speech in Higher Education Act (HB 240), which aligns with the ALEC model policy Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act.

By dismantling DEI bureaucracies, prohibiting bias reporting systems, and rejecting compelled speech, Idaho is setting a national example for academic freedom and intellectual diversity. ALEC congratulates Sen. Toews for this free speech win.