H.R. 2616 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House May 20, 2026. Received May 21, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRequires parental consent for student gender changes
This bill would require public elementary and middle schools to get parental permission before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms. It would also require schools to get parental consent before changing a student's sex-based accommodations, like which locker room or bathroom they use. Schools that receive certain federal education funds would need to follow these rules.
How it affects you
Parents of elementary and middle school students would be notified and asked to consent before schools make these kinds of changes to their child's records or accommodations. Schools would need to follow these rules to keep receiving federal education funding.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 3, 2025)
Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids Act
This bill requires public elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education, to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender on school forms or changing a student's sex-based accommodations.
Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2616
AN ACT
Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-5) · Introduced Apr 3, 2025 · Education · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 21, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · May 20, 2026
Passage Passed 217–198
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 8 | 198 | 6 |
| Independents | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 208 | 0 | 9 |
8 members voted against most of their party: 8 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.