Bill > HB3309

This bill establishes new provisions for protest activities within public schools in Missouri, aiming to balance student expression with the need for an orderly educational environment. Specifically, it prohibits students from organizing or participating in protest activities during scheduled instructional periods if these activities significantly disrupt school operations, and it also makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly disrupt school functions, advise students to do so, interfere with attendance, or conspire to cause disruptions. Consequences for violations are outlined, including students being marked absent for unauthorized walkouts, teachers facing investigations and potential license revocation for facilitating walkouts, and school districts or charter schools risking loss of funding and facing investigations if they allow or encourage walkouts. The bill clarifies that students retain their First Amendment rights to free expression, and schools can implement content-neutral policies regarding the time, place, and manner of student expression, provided these policies are related to legitimate educational concerns and orderly operations. Importantly, students cannot be disciplined solely for peaceful expression unless it materially disrupts the school, infringes on others' rights, or violates these content-neutral policies, and the bill explicitly states it does not prohibit voluntary, nondisruptive expression outside instructional time, limit lawful protected activities, or allow suppression of expression based on viewpoint.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3309&year=2026&code=R