Relating to preventing discrimination in membership in a professional or trade association.
SB 2713 prohibits professional and trade associations (like bar associations or industry groups) from denying membership or services based on race, religion, sex, disability, national origin, or protected speech/assembly activities. It overrides any conflicting bylaws and directly affects both associations and individuals seeking membership. The bill creates a private legal remedy, allowing affected people to sue for damages or court orders if discrimination occurs, with courts able to award attorney fees to winning parties. It takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025
Last action May 21, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
May 8, 2025
MINOR
The bill was reformatted and expanded to include new exceptions for certain types of speech. Originally, the bill prohibited all discrimination in professional or trade associations based on protected characteristics. The updated version now allows associations to deny membership if a person engages in speech that directly incites criminal activity, constitutes a specific threat of violence against protected groups, or otherwise constitutes unlawful speech.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by adding specific exceptions that allow professional or trade associations to deny membership based on certain types of speech that would otherwise be protected.
REQUIREMENT
Added exceptions allowing associations to deny membership for speech that directly incites criminal activity, makes specific threats of violence against protected groups, or constitutes unlawful speech.
Added exception stating the chapter does not apply to associations whose membership is exclusively based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or sex.
TECHNICAL
Changed document formatting from draft version to official engrossed version with updated header information.
Floor votes · Senate May 8, 2025
How they voted
21–9
Passed
Total votes 30
May 8, 2025
D
Democratic10
90% Nay
R
Republican20
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
30
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Amendments
3
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
May 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
lower
May 12, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 9, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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