Bill > HB2682

This bill, renamed the "Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act," expands protections for students in public schools to express their religious, political, or ideological viewpoints. It prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on these viewpoints in their homework, artwork, or other assignments, requiring that such work be judged by academic standards rather than its content. The bill also allows students to pray or engage in religious, political, or ideological activities to the same extent as other non-disruptive activities, and permits the formation of religious, political, or ideological student clubs with equal access to school facilities as other non-curricular groups. Furthermore, students can wear clothing displaying religious, political, or ideological messages, and schools must establish a limited public forum for student speakers at school events, ensuring that student speech is not excluded due to its religious, political, or ideological viewpoint, provided it is not obscene or disruptive. The bill also clarifies that schools can prohibit certain types of unprotected speech and conduct that substantially disrupts school operations or other students' expressive activities, and it establishes a private right of action for students or organizations harmed by violations, including potential monetary damages and attorney's fees, and waives sovereign immunity for the state in such cases.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2682&year=2026&code=R