Committee advances K–12 ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity

Representative Dale Hawkins presented House Bill 352, which would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through 12th grade. Hawkins said the bill responds to parental concerns and cited federal comments made the previous night as context for states’ actions; committee members asked about definitions and implementation.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on definitions and scope. Representative Thais asked whether federal definitions would guide determinations of whether instruction was present; Hawkins declined to cite a federal code section and said the bill addresses instruction rather than physiology or biology. Representative Mathias and others urged the committee to include statutory definitions to avoid leaving interpretive questions to the courts.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Opponents, including Mary Ruck, said banning classroom discussion would deny vulnerable students safe spaces to talk about identity and that suppression would not prevent youth from exploring identity. Supporters, including Doug Taylor (FGA Action), Paul Luehr (pastor), Sam Laird (Idaho Freedom Foundation), Miguel de Luna and others, said the bill protects parental authority and keeps discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the home and family sphere.

Representative Harris moved to send HB352 to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation. A roll call was requested and taken; the committee recorded the motion as carried with the roll‑call tally announced in committee as "11, 4, 2 against and 1 absent and excused." The committee chair announced that the motion carried and that HB352 would go to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation.