House committee advances bill to protect school employees and students from coerced speech, sponsor cites court rulings

House Bill 1270, a measure framed as a protection against coerced speech for students, teachers, school employees and contractors, passed the House Education Committee and will move to the Finance Committee.

Sponsor Chairman Cochran told the committee the bill “is just this is to ensure that that none of those parties just mentioned are ever coerced into saying something that is in opposition to their deeply held religious convictions.” He described the bill as intended to protect First Amendment speech rights in schools and for state employees.

Cochran cited federal cases he said support the bill’s aims, including Merriweather v. Trustees of Shawnee State University (Sixth Circuit), Ricard v. USD 475, and Garrity v. Jackson Local School District—cases the sponsor referenced as examples where courts found that disciplining or compelling employees or teachers to use particular pronouns or titles violated the First Amendment.

Opponents raised concerns about whether the bill would limit schools’ ability to adopt inclusive practices or whether it could create conflicts with existing nondiscrimination policies. Committee members debated the bill’s scope and whether it imposes obligations on school districts or protects individual conscience rights.

After considering an untimely subcommittee amendment (6982) and calling the question, the clerk announced the vote: 14 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present not voting. The committee recorded the bill as moving to the Finance Committee.