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Committee advances bill requiring parental permission before schools use differing pronouns or chosen names for minors
Summary
Senate Bill 1002 would require written parental permission before school employees or contractors may address a minor by a pronoun or name that differs from the student’s biological sex or official school records and would protect employees from being compelled to use pronouns contrary to their religious or moral convictions.
Senate Bill 1002 would require written parental permission before a school district or charter school employee or contractor addresses, identifies, or refers to a student younger than 18 by a pronoun other than the pronoun aligning with the student’s biological sex or by a name other than the student’s first or middle name on official records (with a narrow nickname exception). The bill also prohibits a school from requiring an employee or contractor to use pronouns that conflict with the employee’s religious or moral convictions.
Committee staff presented the bill summary and said each district and charter governing body must adopt implementing policies. Sponsor Senator Kavanaugh framed the bill as a parental‑rights measure and said it restores parents’ primacy in decisions about a child’s gender‑related expressions in school. He emphasized the bill contains a parental‑permission condition and a religious‑beliefs exception for staff.
Opponents included testimony from the ACLU’s Caitlin Contreras and other advocates who argued the bill would harm transgender students, create hostile school environments, and risk violating federal nondiscrimination law and constitutional privacy protections. Contreras said forcing staff to use a student’s “wrong pronouns” can “deny a student’s identity” and that federal protections, including Title IX and relevant court decisions, should be considered.
Committee members debated whether the bill is an absolute prohibition or conditional on parental permission and whether it would require teachers to disclose or withhold information. Sponsors and opponents also discussed potential effects on students who are under medical care for gender dysphoria, the possibility of disproportionate impacts on students whose parents are not engaged, and teachers’ free‑speech and conscience protections.
The committee voted to give SB 1002 a due‑pass recommendation. The recorded committee vote was 4 ayes, 2 noes, 1 not voting.
Why it matters: The bill would change school practice around student names and pronouns, create a parental‑permission requirement, and add a religious‑conscience protection for employees; advocates and some legislators said it could harm transgender and nonbinary students and raise legal questions about privacy and nondiscrimination.
Votes at a glance: Committee gave SB 1002 a due‑pass recommendation (vote: 4–2–1).
