Congress·Reported·H.R. 2616

Congress Proposes Requiring Parental Consent for Student Gender and Bathroom Changes in Schools

PROTECT Kids Act

2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill, introduced by Mr. Walberg, would require public elementary and middle schools to get a parent's permission before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school forms.
Schools would also be required to get parental consent before allowing a student to change which sex-based facilities they use, such as bathrooms or locker rooms.
These rules would apply to any public school that receives federal funding. If a school fails to get parental consent for these changes, they could risk losing their federal education money.
The policy is designed to ensure that parents are the primary decision-makers regarding their child's gender identity and privacy while they are at school.
This specific proposal focuses on younger children in elementary and middle school grades, rather than older students in high school.

EducationCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

3 milestones6 actions

Jan 13, 2026House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 377.

Jan 13, 2026House

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-441.

Apr 9, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 12.

Apr 9, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Apr 3, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

House floor vote on the bill

If the bill passes the House, it would move to the Senate for consideration. No changes would take effect yet, but passage would signal growing momentum toward requiring parental consent for gender-related changes in schools.

Related News

2 articles

The Hill·over 3 years ago

Tim Scott introduces legislation to pull funding from schools with transgender support policies

The PROTECT Kids Act would withhold federal funding from schools that allow students to change their name or pronouns without parental permission, aiming to increase transparency between schools and families regarding a child's gender identity.

Metro Weekly·over 3 years ago

Federal Bill Would Strip Funding from Schools with Trans Support Policies

Advocates warn that the PROTECT Kids Act would effectively force school staff to 'out' transgender students to their parents if the student wishes to have their gender identity affirmed at school, potentially putting vulnerable youth at risk.

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