IL HB5552

School districts, charter schools, and private secondary schools cannot discipline high school students solely for speech or communication protected by the U.S. Constitution or Illinois Constitution when that conduct occurs outside school campus.

Students enrolled in schools that violate this provision may file civil lawsuits seeking injunctive and declaratory relief, with courts authorized to award attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs.

The law does not apply to private secondary schools controlled by religious organizations when application would conflict with the organization's religious tenets.

Schools may still discipline students for harassment, threats, or intimidation unless such conduct is constitutionally protected, and free speech remains subject to reasonable time, place, and manner regulations.

School employees cannot be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, or retaliated against for protecting students' constitutionally protected speech or refusing to enforce rules that infringe on such rights.