HB 4551 Summary

• Establishes the "Student Free Press Act" to protect freedom of speech and press rights for student journalists in public schools and higher education institutions in school-sponsored media.

• Student journalists have the right to determine news, opinion, feature, and advertising content, except for expression that is libelous, slanderous, invades privacy, violates law, or incites unlawful acts or material disruption.

• Prohibits schools from imposing prior restraint on school-sponsored media and prevents discipline of students for expression while operating as independent journalists.

• Requires all public schools and institutions of higher education to adopt written student freedom of expression policies that include reasonable time, place, and manner provisions and may restrict profane, harassing, threatening, or intimidating language.

• Protects student media advisers from dismissal, suspension, or retaliation for protecting student journalist rights or refusing to infringe on those rights.

• Schools and their employees are not responsible for student journalist publications exercising rights under this act.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment.