Kansas Senate Education Committee advances package of education bills including controversial Given Name measure

The Kansas Senate Committee on Education advanced a package of education bills on a meeting that opened with an overview of several measures and closed after extended debate on a parental‑consent provision for students’ names and pronouns.

The committee voted to pass Senate Bill 76, the “Given Name Act,” as amended; advanced Senate Bill 48 (accreditation tied to compliance and improvement) after a contested amendment and a 5–4 division vote; and moved favorably on bills addressing attendance‑center needs assessments (Senate Bill 49), school‑board transparency and public comment (Senate Bill 47), virtual‑school graduation‑rate calculations (Senate Bill 45, substitute), postsecondary accreditation review (Senate Bill 78) and participation of nonpublic/virtual students in ancillary activities (Senate Bill 114).

Tamara Lawrence, the committee reviser, summarized several bills at the start of their discussion. On SB 76 she said the bill “would prohibit employees of school districts and post secondary institutions from addressing a minor or a student by a pronoun that is inconsistent with the minor's biological [sex] or by a name other than the name listed on the student's birth certificate or a derivative of such name without written permission from the minor's parent.” The committee adopted an amendment striking postsecondary institutions from the parental‑permission requirement and replaced “student” language in places to align the definition of “minor” in the bill with state law (an unemancipated individual under 18, as discussed in committee).

Supporters argued the change protects parents’ knowledge and involvement when a minor’s social or name changes occur at school. Senator Shane said the measure seeks to address cases in which parents were not informed about “intentional subversion and removing the parent from very important decisions regarding the life of the child,” and said it allows parents to consent if they choose. Opponents warned the bill…