HB 1940 Summary

• Creates the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act requiring school districts to treat student religious expression the same as secular expression on permissible subjects without discrimination.

• Mandates school districts establish limited public forums for student speakers at school events (football games, assemblies, graduations) with neutral selection criteria and required disclaimers that speeches do not represent school endorsement.

• Allows students to express religious beliefs in homework and classroom assignments judged by academic standards only, without penalty or reward based on religious content.

• Permits students to organize religious groups, prayer clubs, and religious gatherings with same facility access and advertising rights as non-religious student organizations without discrimination.

• Requires school districts to adopt a model policy incorporating these provisions and grants the Attorney General authority to enforce the act; effective July 1, 2013.