Tennessee legislators moved forward with a bill that would restrict “staging walkouts” at public university events, requiring colleges to adopt elements of the University of Chicago’s free expression policy. The measure, HB 1476, heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee after being sent to his desk. Supporters said the policy protects free speech by preventing protests from disrupting invited speakers. The bill defines walkouts as actions that cause “considerable disruption or distraction” or force an event pause, with penalties that can escalate from disciplinary probation to suspension and expulsion for repeat violations. Faculty members and free-speech advocates criticized the bill as inappropriate for campus protest activity and faulted the ambiguity in how “obstruction” and disruption would be enforced. The legislation also limits colleges from disinviting speakers due to opposition from campus groups.