Bill > S00068

This bill enacts the Student Journalist Free Speech Act, which provides robust protections for student journalists in public high schools when producing school-sponsored media. The legislation guarantees students the right to determine news, opinion, and feature content without prior restraint, while establishing clear boundaries for acceptable speech. Students can publish materials without administrative interference unless the content falls into specific prohibited categories, such as being libelous, invasive of privacy, illegal, or likely to incite unlawful actions or substantially disrupt school operations. The bill also protects student media advisors from retaliation for supporting student journalists and clarifies that student political expression in school media does not constitute misuse of public funds. Importantly, the law places the burden on school administrators to justify any limitations on student expression and explicitly states that student publications do not represent the official position of the educational institution. The bill aims to foster student free speech and journalism skills while maintaining reasonable safeguards for school safety and individual rights.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S68