GA HB1561

Student journalists at Georgia secondary schools (grades 6-12) and public higher education institutions gain the right to exercise freedom of speech and press in school-sponsored media, with students responsible for determining news, opinion, feature, and advertising content

Student media advisers are protected from dismissal, suspension, discipline, reassignment, transfer, or retaliation for refusing to censor protected student speech or for defending student journalists' constitutional rights

Protections do not extend to expression that is libelous, slanderous, an unwarranted invasion of privacy, obscene, violates law, or creates a clear and present danger of unlawful acts or material disruption of school operations

Prior restraint of student publications is prohibited except for content violating the specified limitations; schools and institutions cannot be held liable for student journalist expressions

Local school boards and higher education institutions must adopt written policies on student press freedom, including time/place/manner provisions and appeals processes; students and advisers may seek injunctive relief in court with potential attorney's fee awards for prevailing plaintiffs