Sen. Hughes named to freedom of speech committee following Kirk assassination

AUSTIN — In the wake of the assassination of conservative political speaker Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced new committees that will study freedom of speech on college campuses. According to our news partner KETK, the new Texas House and Senate Select Committees on Civil Discourse & Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were announced by Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows on Friday. The committees are tasked with studying and issuing reports on “bias, discourse, and freedom of speech across Texas college campuses.”

Patrick said those who’ve celebrated Kirk’s death at a college speaking event cannot be tolerated on college campuses.

“The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, of assembly, and of petition,” Patrick said. “It is the First Amendment because it is the foundation of all our rights. In that list, the free exercise of religion is paramount. Take away a person’s right to free exercise of religion and every other right falls quickly. Charlie Kirk was my friend. He was assassinated for simply expressing his First Amendment rights. The attack on Charlie was an attack on the First Amendment. Those who cheered his murder are also cheering for the death of America. We cannot tolerate either at our institutions of higher learning.”

Burrows suggested that the committee will investigate measures that will make sure political gatherings are safe on campus following Kirk’s assassination, which happened at a Turning Points USA event at Utah Valley University.

“The political assassination of Charlie Kirk—and the national reaction it has sparked, including the public celebration of his murder by some in higher education—is appalling and reveals a deeper, systemic problem worth examining,” Burrows said. “This disturbing reality underscores the urgency of creating these committees. Charlie dedicated his life to open, respectful dialogue with those he disagreed with, and that approach is something we should all celebrate and fight to protect. This committee will help identify ways to better protect the fundamental right of free speech on our campuses, including measures to ensure political gatherings are safe and secure, and its recommendations will guide the Legislature’s policy decisions moving forward.”

East Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola was one of eight senators named to the Texas Senate’s select committee on Friday. The eight-member Senate committee will consist of the following state senators:

• Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Chair
• Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler, Vice Chair
• Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso
• Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels
• Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood
• Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen
• Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

The eight-member House committee will consist of the following Texas State representatives:

• Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, Chair
• Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, Vice Chair
• Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado
• Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo
• Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls
• Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville
• Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston

The committees will also be tasked with examining the implementation of SB 37, which impacts faculty influence on a college class’s curriculum and SB 2972, which restricts political protesting on college campuses.