Bill · S. 839· Senate(119-S-839)
Safeguarding Honest Speech Act
- Introduced
- 3/4/2025
- Last activity
- 3/4/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Safeguarding Honest Speech Act aims to prevent the use of federal funds for rules or policies that require employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns or names other than a person's legal name. This prohibition applies if the preferred pronouns are incompatible with the person's sex, which is defined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The bill includes specific enforcement mechanisms for those who feel these rules have been applied to them. It mandates that federal agencies provide a formal response to written notices of alleged violations within 30 days. Additionally, it establishes a private right of action for aggrieved employees or contractors.
Yes
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?+5
The bill prevents the government from compelling employees to use specific pronouns or names that do not match their legal identity.
The opposite
Would LGBTQ people be better off under this?-8
The bill restricts the ability of federal employees and contractors to have their preferred pronouns and names recognized by their agencies.
Does this expand the rights of LGBTQ people?-7
The bill prohibits federal agencies from enforcing policies that recognize preferred pronouns or names incompatible with sex at birth.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection against compelled language: Federal employees and contractors would be protected from being required by their agencies or departments to use preferred pronouns that do not match their sex at birth or names other than their legal name (Section 2(a)).
-
Right to formal agency response: If an employee or contractor submits a written notice regarding an alleged violation, the federal agency or department is required to issue a formal response within 30 days (Section 2(b)(1)).
-
Ability to seek legal recourse: Employees or contractors who are aggrieved by a violation have the right to commence a civil action against the responsible federal agency or department (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Availability of various legal remedies: In a legal action, the court has the authority to award relief such as injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive or exemplary damages up to $100,000, and reasonable attorney fees (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restrictions on pronoun and name usage: The bill prohibits the use of funds for policies that require the use of a person's preferred pronouns if they are incompatible with the person's sex at birth, or the use of a name other than a person's legal name (Section 2(a)).
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Time constraints on legal action: An individual must bring a civil action regarding an alleged violation no later than 1 year after the date the violation occurred (Section 2(b)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For L G B T Q Community-8
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves L G B T Q Rights-7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+5
- 3/4/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina