Steven T Collis in the Media

ProPublica August 23, 2024

This College’s 38-Acre Land Donation to a Christian School Drew Little Attention. Experts Say It Appears to Violate the Law.

With growing discourse on the blurring lines between church and state, Professor Steven Collis provides expert insight on the legality of a Texas public junior college's donation of a 38-acre property to a Community Christian School.

CNBC July 18, 2024

Business owner goes viral for mass ‘Trump 2024’ email—why he missed the mark, from a ‘productive discourse’ expert

Quotes from an upcoming book by Professor Steven Collis were used in a article about public statements issued by companies on political topics.

USA TODAY May 24, 2024

Idaho law will require parental consent to use certain names, pronouns in schools

Clinical Professor Steven Collis provides insight on HB 538, Idaho's law targeting pronoun usage in public schools, explaining that it will not prevent employees or students from using others preferred pronouns if they choose to do so.

Austin American-Statesman May 17, 2024

Texas lawmakers probe universities’ compliance with anti-DEI law, free speech

Professor Steven Collis testifies about the First Amendment, outlining what forms of speech the government can legally restrict and specifying that hate speech is neither defined nor restricted in federal law.

USA TODAY April 30, 2024

Is it illegal to protest in Texas? Fact-checking false claims

Professors Steven Collis and Tara Leigh Grove comment on the 5th Circuit Court's decision in Mckesson v. Doe, contributing to discourse on the future of protesting in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

More of: Tara Grove

Houston Chronicle April 25, 2024

What does state law say about the pro-Palestinian protests at UT Austin? Here are the details.

Professor Steven Collis, director of the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center, explains the limits of free speech protections on public university campuses and discusses the various factors that determine the legality of campus protests.

Sirius XM October 31, 2023

Prof. Steven Collis on Students’ First Amendment Rights

In a podcast episode of "The Dan Abrams Show," Professor Steven Collis discusses students' First Amendment rights on college campuses and whether pro-Palestinian groups can be banned from universities.

Houston Landing September 21, 2023

Houston animal rights activists file free speech lawsuit over arrest at Discovery Green

The Law and Religion Clinic is featured in an article about their clients who filed a free speech lawsuit against the city of Houston for barring them from protesting in a city park.

More of: John Greil

Law360 August 24, 2023

The Texas Judge Behind Religious Training Sanctions Ruling

Professor Steven T. Collis speaks on the controversy surrounding U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr's ruling mandating that three Southwest Airlines employees undergo "religious liberty training."

Associated Press August 17, 2023

Legal experts question judge’s order telling Southwest lawyers to get religious-liberty training

Clinical Professor Steven Collis and Professor Emeritus Douglas Laycock share their opinions on a ruling that requires three Southwest Airline lawyers to undergo a religious-liberty training in response to a recent lawsuit ruling.

More of: Douglas Laycock

The Ten Commandments Monument on the Texas State Capitol grounds in Austin.

The Texas Tribune May 4, 2023

Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening

Clinical Professor Steven Collis provides insight into the 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case and how it could affect recent efforts to decrease church-state separation in Texas.

A photograph of the sky above the Texas Capitol.

Austin American-Statesman May 3, 2023

Texas bill promoting Ten Commandments in public classrooms poses complex legal questions

Clinical Professor Steven Collis explains religion law precedents and the complexity of legal arguments surrounding the SB 1515 bill, which would require all classrooms in Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments.