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Student‑athlete protection bill moved to summer study after First Amendment concerns
Summary
Lawmakers voted to place HB 17-69, which would criminalize threatening communications tied to sports performance and create a private right of action for athletes, into a summer study after members raised free‑speech and civil‑penalty concerns.
The subcommittee considered HB 17-69, a proposal aimed at protecting intercollegiate student athletes from threats and sports-betting–related harassment. The sponsor said the bill is narrowly tailored to criminalize communications that intend a threat of physical harm and to permit civil relief for repeated, harmful sports-related bullying.
Leader Lambert and other members voiced concerns about First Amendment implications and the potentially heavy civil penalties in the bill, including statutory damages that one member characterized as a "sledgehammer" that could chill online expression. Leader Lambert proposed a motion for summer study; after objection and a roll-call, the motion passed 6–2 and the committee moved HB 17-69 to summer study rather than advancing it to full judiciary.
Sponsor argued the bill had narrow definitions and high hurdles of proof designed to avoid unconstitutional overbreadth, and said the aim is to protect vulnerable student athletes, including those not paid or in high-profile sports. Members agreed to further study the bill’s scope and potential constitutional challenges before any advancement.
