"True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact

Georgia students gain political expression protections

Georgia public-school students can express political views before, during, and after school on the same terms as nonpolitical expression. They can form partisan or nonpartisan groups on the same terms as other groups outside the school curriculum. These groups get equal access to meeting space and announcements during noninstructional time—before or after classroom instruction. Schools need not offer meeting space, but allowing even one noncurricular group to meet creates an equal-access forum. Schools cannot deny access based on political, philosophical, ideological, or other speech content. Meetings must be voluntary, student-started, free of school or government sponsorship, and must not substantially disrupt school or violate others’ rights. People unaffiliated with the school cannot direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend group activities. Schools must disclaim sponsorship without favoring or disfavoring political groups. Students can wear political messages on clothing, accessories, and jewelry on the same terms as other dress-code messages. Schools retain authority to enforce attendance rules and protect students and staff from disruption, violence, threats, and harassment. The law does not authorize governments to shape political activities, require participation, or spend beyond incidental space costs. It also does not authorize forcing employees to attend meetings against their beliefs, allowing unlawful meetings, or limiting constitutional rights.