HB2249

THE CONTEXT: The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health of their children is a fundamental right. The state, a state political subdivision or other governmental entity may not infringe on these rights without demonstrating that the compelling governmental interest is of the highest order, narrowly tailored and not otherwise served by a less restrictive means ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would expand the Parents' Bill of Rights to include the right to: a; consent in writing and be informed if any school employee facilitates or implements any form of social transitioning for a minor child, including: i; addressing or referring to the child by a name or nickname other than the child's legal name or a natural derivative of that name; or ii; referring to the child using pronouns, titles or personal identifiers that do not align with the child's sex; and b; request, review and access a minor child's complete educational record, prohibit a school district or school employee from facilitating or implementing any form of social transitioning for a minor child without the written consent of each of the child's parents, and prohibit a school employee from withholding information from a parent about the parent's minor child, including any educational record information regarding the child's physical, emotional, mental or academic well-being. Interfering with or Usurping a Parent's Fundamental Right.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give the people who rely on the rule clearer information and a defined reporting process. It would expand the Parents' Bill of Rights to include the right to: a. consent in writing and be informed if any school employee facilitates or implements any form of social transitioning for a minor child, including: i. addressing or referring to the child by a name or nickname other than the child's legal name or a natural derivative of that name; or ii. referring to the child using pronouns, titles or personal identifiers that do not align with the child's sex; and b. request, review and access a minor child's complete educational record, and would also prohibit a school district or school employee from facilitating or implementing any form of social transitioning for a minor child without the written consent of each of the child's parents, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.