In time for the 2016-17 school year, a bipartisan bill expanding freedom of speech for student journalists in Illinois has been approved by Governor Rauner after sailing through the Illinois General Assembly. Introduced in February 2016 by Illinois Future Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39th District), the Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act amassed over a dozen cosponsors from across the aisle and both houses. Illinois Future Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) voted in support of the bill.
The Act expands the rights of public high school student journalists across Illinois, protecting them from unwarranted or unlawful censorship restrictions on their reporting and granting them decision making authority over their content. It clearly defines limits for this protection, such as in cases of libel or slander.
Read more about the Act’s journey through the Illinois legislature here :
Illinois passes law protecting free speech for high school journalists
Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill that aims to protect high school journalists from interference in school publications. The Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate and signed Friday by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
The goal of the Illinois Future Caucus is to foster a nonpartisan community of young state-elected officials that models post-partisan leadership on future-oriented issues facing America’s next generation. To learn more about the Illinois Future Caucus, click here.