ND HB1471

Grants student journalists at higher education institutions and public schools the right to freedom of speech and press in school-sponsored media, regardless of financial support or facility use by the institution.

Prohibits prior restraint of school-sponsored media except when content is libelous, slanderous, invades privacy, violates federal or state law, or creates clear and present danger of unlawful acts or material disruption.

Excludes from protection any expression that is libelous, slanderous, invades privacy, violates law, or incites students to unlawful acts or policy violations with clear and present danger.

Requires school districts to adopt written student freedom of expression policies that include reasonable provisions for time, place, and manner of expression, and may limit profane, harassing, threatening, or intimidating language.

Prohibits school districts from sanctioning students operating as independent journalists and prevents student media advisers from censoring content except to teach professional journalism standards.