Senate approves bill restricting required use of preferred pronouns in schools and extending immunity to staff

Senator Rose, sponsor of Senate Bill 9 37, explained that the bill extends existing statutory protections so that public school employees, contractors and faculty are not required to use a student's preferred pronoun in circumstances where the preferred pronoun is inconsistent with the student's biological sex and clarifies related notification and cause‑of‑action provisions.

Supporters argued the bill preserves teachers' and staff's rights of conscience and clarifies notification duties. Senator Rose said the legislation "extends the provisions of existing law to cover immunity for public schools and LEAs to students and contractors."

Opponents warned the measure directs how people should speak and could harm students, especially vulnerable youth. Senator Yarbrough said the body should be hesitant about legislation aimed at directing how people talk and expressed concern the measure could create "more fights." Senator Ackbery and other members raised questions about parental consent and possible unintended consequences for nicknames or derivative names.

After a motion to end debate and the sponsor’s close, the Senate voted in favor of the bill on third and final consideration (ayes 25, nays 5). The sponsor renewed his motion to pass and the bill will advance through the normal enrollment and transmittal process.