GA HB1592

Student journalists at public and private schools (grades 6-12 receiving state funding) and public institutions of higher education gain the right to exercise freedom of speech and press in school-sponsored media, including control over 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, obscene, constitutes invasion of privacy, violates law, or creates a clear and present danger of unlawful acts or material disruption of school operations.

Schools and institutions must adopt written policies governing student press freedom, including time, place, and manner provisions and an appeals process; prior restraint is prohibited except for content violating the specified limitations.

Students or media advisers may seek injunctive or declaratory relief in court to enforce these rights, and prevailing plaintiffs may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees.