School districts and student-media advisors, as defined in the act, may regulate the number, length, frequency, and format of school sponsored media.

School districts shall not engage in prior restraint of school-sponsored media except in the circumstances described in the act.

Student journalists shall be responsible for determining the content of school-sponsored media, while student-media advisors are responsible for teaching and encouraging expression and the standards of English and journalism. No student-media advisor shall be subject to disciplinary actions described in the act for refusal to abridge or infringe upon freedom of expression.

No expression in exercise of the rights provided under this act shall be an expression of school policy or the basis for liability of the school district or its employees, except to the extent such entity or person actively participated and knew to take timely action. Student journalists who are not minors may be liable for criminal or civil actions based on material for which they were responsible or involved.

School districts shall adopt a written freedom of the press policy that includes reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of student expression. The policy may also restrict speech that is offensive or threatening.

This act is identical to HB 480 (2021), SB 923 (2020), HCS/HBs 743 & 673 (2019), and HB 1940 (2018) and is substantially similar to HB 2317 (2020) and HCS/HB 576 (2019).

MATT KIMMINAU