The act provides that a student journalist, as defined in the act, has a right to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media, as defined in the act.

The provisions of the act do not apply to content that is: libelous or slanderous; constitutes an invasion of privacy; violates federal or state law; is a threat of violence; advertises a product or service that is illegal or is not permitted to be sold to minors by law; is likely to incite students to commit an unlawful act or to violate school district policy or procedure; or is likely to materially and substantially disrupt the orderly operation of the school.

The act requires each school district to adopt a written student freedom of expression policy which shall include reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. The policy may include restrictions on speech that may be defined as vulgar, obscene, offensively lewd, profane, harassing, threatening, or intimidating.

The provisions of the act also apply to public institutions of higher education, as specified in the act.

This act is similar to HB 2058 (2016).

JAMIE ANDREWS