Sponsor expands draft to bar instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through grade 12; committee introduces RS

Representative Dale Hawkins, R-District 2, introduced RS 32554 on March 3, 2025, a revised draft that would expand earlier K–3 restrictions to K–12 instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. Hawkins said the change followed feedback from parents who objected to limiting the restriction to third grade.

Hawkins said the draft targets instruction about "what people think about their sexual orientation" and "gender identity" rather than biology or physiology. "We're not talking about biology, we're not talking about physiology, we're talking about thought, what people think about their sexual orientation," he said.

Committee members pressed for definitional clarity and for examples of how the draft would apply across courses. Representative Church asked whether historical instruction — for example about Harvey Milk and his assassination — would be covered; Hawkins said he was "completely unaware" of that specific example and that the draft was intended to address instruction from educators to students on the identified subjects. Representative Mathias and others said precise statutory definitions of "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" would be important to avoid uncertain application in classrooms.

Representative Hart asked whether the draft would effectively remove reference to gender identity and sexual orientation from all courses, including math problems or literature examples; Hawkins confirmed that the broader draft was intended to exclude those topics from instruction across courses.

Representative Mendy moved to introduce RS 32554; the committee voted to introduce the draft. One member recorded a nay during the introductory vote. Sponsors and other members said definitions and other drafting details would be resolved during the bill-drafting and hearing process.