The Protect Prayer in Schools Act of 2023 would allow students and others to sue school officials and employees who they believe have prohibited or limited personal prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill creates a legal cause of action against anyone acting under color of school authority who restricts an individual's ability to engage in personal religious observance, making them liable for damages or other relief. The legislation is based on the Supreme Court's 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District decision, which ruled that the First Amendment protects personal religious expression from government suppression. The bill contains extensive findings arguing that the Founding Fathers intended to protect religion in public institutions and that current restrictions on school prayer conflict with constitutional intent. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the legislation.
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