A new bill, the Restoring Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Act of 2026, aims to strengthen free speech protections in higher education. This legislation addresses a critical financial hurdle faced by groups litigating against public universities for free speech violations. Currently, when universities lose at the preliminary injunction stage, legal advocates cannot recover their litigation costs and fees. The proposed bill would enable such recovery, thereby creating a more equitable playing field. Public universities, with access to public funds, can currently sustain lengthy legal battles, outspending smaller public interest groups. This disparity allows universities to maintain anti-free speech policies and actions, often by purging dissenting faculty. Universities frequently lose these free speech cases, but the inability for litigants to recoup costs at the preliminary injunction stage drains their resources. A Supreme Court ruling established that a preliminary injunction alone does not qualify a plaintiff as a "prevailing party" eligible for fees. This loophole allows public funds to be used against free speech, pressuring advocates into unfavorable settlements. The bill offers a practical solution to close this loophole and ensure a fairer chance for dissenting faculty and students. Public universities are crucial for defending free speech as the First Amendment directly applies to them. Passing this act is essential to support free speech advocates and minority viewpoints in higher education.