Committee advances Protect Kids Act requiring parental consent for name/pronoun changes in K–8

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce voted to report HR 2616, the Protect Kids Act, to the full House after adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The committee’s recorded vote on reporting the bill was 18 yeas and 12 nays.

Representative Wahlberg (chair) described the bill as a "common sense" requirement that federally funded elementary and middle schools obtain parental consent before changing a student’s gender marker, pronouns, preferred name on school forms, or sex‑based accommodations such as locker rooms or bathrooms. "The most important stakeholders in a child's life are his or her parents," the chair said while explaining the amendment.

Supporters said the bill protects parental rights and prevents school staff from making changes without parent knowledge. Representative Harris (R-N.C.) and Representative Kiley (R-Calif.) urged adoption, saying parents should be informed if a student is identified as a different gender at school. They and other proponents cited state and district policies they described as keeping parents uninformed.

Opponents said the bill could put students at risk by forcing schools to disclose gender identity or preferred names when doing so could endanger the child. Representative Bonamici (D-Ore.) said, "Forcing schools to out students to their families is not only unnecessary, it's likely to be dangerous for students' mental health and well‑being." Representative Tucano (Takano) and Representative Hayes emphasized that teachers and counselors sometimes are the only safe confidantes for students in unsafe homes.

Committee action: the amendment in the nature of a substitute (offered by Representative Wahlberg) was considered original text and the chair stated the amendment was agreed to. Representative Owens moved that the committee report HR 2616 to the House with a favorable recommendation; the clerk recorded 18 yeas and 12 nays and the motion carried.

Discussion: members debated local control, parental rights, and student safety. Questions raised included what counts as a school form for purposes of the bill and how the rule would apply to routine classroom nicknames and administrative uses of preferred names.

Decisions: amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted; committee reported HR 2616 to the House with a favorable recommendation (recorded vote 18–12).