Committee advances parental-rights bill after broad amendments to limit teacher burdens

The House Education Committee on Monday advanced House Bill 200 with a series of amendments intended to narrow initial language and reduce administrative burdens on teachers while preserving added parental-notification requirements.

Sponsors and committee members said the revised measure aims to clarify Wyoming Statute 21-3-135 and to give parents advance notice and opt-out rights for specified presentations; the committee voted to pass the bill as amended 7–2.

Representative Joe Webb, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is intended to make statute 21-3-135 more definitive and to ensure districts notify parents when students’ “educational, physical, mental, or emotional health or well-being” changes while under school supervision, including during extracurricular activities. Webb said the bill requires at least five days’ notice for assemblies, extracurricular activities or guest speakers that address sexual orientation, gender identity or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and that districts adopt policies allowing staff to withdraw from mandatory DEI training.

State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder, testifying in support of the amended bill, said she welcomed the removal of provisions that would have required teachers to post every lesson plan online and supported clarifying DEI language so the law could not be read to bar teaching state history or other standard material. “We currently have 10 school districts who are on board with [a transparency] initiative,” Degenfelder said, urging continued work on a state-hosted posting platform and offering a possible technical addition to the amended bill related to HR positions.

Educators and district leaders urged the committee to limit new administrative burdens. “Our best teachers plan their lessons going into each week,” Sheridan superintendent Jeff Jones said. He described formative assessment and in-class adjustments that make it impossible to post static, complete lesson plans in advance. The Wyoming Education Association and multiple classroom teachers expressed concern that vague or onerous posting requirements would chill classroom instruction; witnesses praised the sponsor’s amendments for removing punitive measures and impractical posting mandates.

Public supporters — including parents and advocacy groups — argued the bill strengthens parental rights and transparency. Supporters said the measure requires only basic notice, not preapproval of classroom instruction, and that parents should be able to opt their children out of certain presentations. “Schools must provide basic curriculum information at the start of each year and communicate updates when changes occur,” supporter Laura Pavey said.

Committee members and witnesses debated language about pronouns and name usage. The amended language would permit school districts to adopt policies that do not require staff to use a student’s preferred pronouns if those pronouns “do not align with the student’s biological sex,” language sponsors described as intended to protect staff conscience rights while leaving details to district policy. The State Superintendent suggested a possible technical change referencing a “Given Name Act” approach that would require parental approval for name or pronoun changes used in class; that change was suggested for later consideration, not added in committee.

Multiple amendments were adopted during the hearing to excise provisions teachers and administrators said would be unworkable; the committee then voted to report HB 200 do pass as amended. Roll-call on the final committee vote recorded seven ayes and two nos (Representative Williams and Representative Lolli cast a no/absentee as recorded); the clerk announced the vote as 7 aye, 2 no.