Sub. H.B. No. 425 Summary

• Establishes the "Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2016" protecting student religious expression including prayer, religious gatherings, distribution of religious materials, and wearing religious symbolic clothing.

• Students in public schools, community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools may engage in religious expression before, during, and after school hours to the same extent as secular expression.

• Schools must provide equal access to facilities for student religious meetings and gatherings as provided to secular student groups.

• Students cannot be prohibited from including religious expression in homework, artwork, or written/oral assignments, and grades must be based on academic standards without penalizing or rewarding based on religious content.

• Amends provisions allowing school boards to provide optional moments of silence for prayer, reflection, or meditation, and prohibits boards from restricting students' free exercise of religious beliefs outside instructional time periods.