Bill > HB0227

This bill establishes standards for student expression in school-sponsored media, defining "school-sponsored media" as content prepared, written, published, or broadcast by a student journalist under the guidance of a student media adviser and distributed to students, excluding materials solely for classroom use. It grants student journalists the right to freedom of speech and the press in school-sponsored media, allowing them to determine content unless it is libelous, an invasion of privacy, obscene, violates law, or incites a clear and present danger of unlawful acts, policy violations, or substantial disruption to school operations. Schools cannot censor content without demonstrating justification and must provide an appeal process for any limitations. Additionally, the bill states that schools and their employees are not liable for student expression in school-sponsored media unless they interfere with or alter the content, and it protects student media advisers from retaliation for upholding student rights. Local education agencies (LEAs) must adopt written policies for student expression in school-sponsored media that align with these provisions and make them available to students and parents.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0227.html