Enacting the safeguarding personal expression at K-12 schools act to authorize students and student clubs or organizations to engage in certain speech or expression at school and providing a civil cause of action for violations of the act.

SB 421, the "Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools Act" (SPEAKS Act), protects K-12 students in Kansas from school discrimination based on religious, political, or ideological speech. It allows students to express these views in class discussions, assignments, clubs, and clothing - on the same terms as other student expression - while prohibiting schools from penalizing them for such speech. Schools may still restrict unprotected speech (like threats or severe harassment) and disruptive conduct. The bill creates a private right to sue schools for violations, with minimum $5,000 damages per violation, and allows students to use the act as a defense in disciplinary cases. It applies to all Kansas public schools and student clubs or organizations.