SB556

Senate Bill 556 creates the Religious Viewpoint Antidiscrimination Act, requiring Arkansas public school districts to treat student expression of religious viewpoints the same as secular or other viewpoints. It mandates that school districts adopt policies ensuring students are not discriminated against for expressing religious viewpoints in permissible contexts. Schools are required to establish a limited public forum for student speakers at school events, including graduation ceremonies, using neutral selection criteria. The bill specifies that student speech must not be obscene, vulgar, lewd, or indecent, and requires the use of disclaimers to clarify that student speech does not constitute district endorsement. Additionally, the bill mandates that student homework, classwork, and creative assignments must be graded based on academic standards regardless of religious content. Finally, it authorizes the Attorney General to defend the act in court and allows for the potential involvement of the First Liberty Institute in that legal defense.