Equitable Access to School Facilities Act

# Equitable Access to School Facilities Act (S 1723) **What the Bill Does** The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act would require public schools to provide equal access to their facilities for student groups and community organizations. The bill aims to prevent schools from discriminating against certain groups when deciding who can use school buildings, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and other spaces during non-instructional time (like after school hours or weekends). **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This legislation would impact public school districts, student organizations, and community groups seeking to use school facilities. The bill's core requirement is that schools cannot deny facility access based on a group's beliefs, message, or viewpoint—meaning schools would need to apply the same standards to all organizations requesting to use their spaces.

This is intended to protect both religious groups and secular organizations from being excluded based on the content of their speech or activities. **Current Status** As of now, S 1723 remains in committee and has not advanced to a floor vote. The bill has not yet been acted upon by the full Senate.