Bill > SB258

This bill establishes the "Cronkite New Voices Act" to protect freedom of press for student journalists in both high schools and public institutions of higher education in Missouri. The bill defines school-sponsored media as student-created content prepared under the direction of a student-media advisor and distributed to the student body. It provides students with the right to exercise freedom of speech and press in their school media, preventing suppression of content solely because it is political or controversial. The law sets clear guidelines for when school administrators can restrain publication, limiting such actions only in specific circumstances like potential libel, privacy violations, threats of violence, or potential substantial disruption of school operations. Additionally, the bill protects student-media advisors from disciplinary action for supporting student journalists' free expression and shields educational institutions from liability for student-published content, except in cases where they actively participated in or knowingly failed to prevent problematic content. Schools are required to adopt written policies regarding student press freedom, and the act applies to both high school and higher education student media, ensuring students can report and express themselves responsibly with meaningful editorial independence.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=258