Two high‑profile state moves tightened controls over course content and classroom practice. The Texas A&M System approved a policy restricting courses that ‘advocate’ race or gender ideologies without prior approval—prompting faculty pushback and concerns about academic freedom after a viral video and a professor’s firing. Separately, reporting from Florida documented informal, secret rules instructing faculty to alter course materials despite no clear statutory basis, a dynamic that leaves instructors uncertain about legal authority and enforcement. Both actions signal growing state involvement in curricular oversight and the potential chilling effect on classroom discussion. University leaders, faculty senates and legal scholars warn that vague directives and approval requirements risk undermining trust, complicating faculty governance, and provoking lawsuits or regulatory disputes.