The bill establishes protections for student speech and expression in public schools in Wyoming, creating a legal framework that allows students to engage in religious, political, or ideological speech without fear of discrimination or penalty. It defines "school" and "student," and outlines specific activities that students may participate in, such as expressing viewpoints in class, completing assignments with ideological content, organizing gatherings, and forming clubs. The bill also stipulates that schools cannot discriminate against student organizations based on their expressed viewpoints and provides exceptions for expression that is not protected under the First Amendment or that disrupts school operations.

Additionally, the bill introduces a cause of action for individuals or student organizations harmed by violations of these protections, allowing them to seek various forms of relief, including monetary damages. It amends the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act to clarify that schools waive immunity for lawsuits arising from violations of student expression rights. The act is set to take effect immediately upon completion of the necessary legislative processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 1-39-104