S. 2702: Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act of 2025

The bill titled the "Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act of 2025" seeks to enhance parental rights regarding children's gender transition matters within educational settings. Its main provisions focus on ensuring parental consent is required before schools can take any actions related to a child's gender identity that does not align with their biological sex. Here is a summary of key aspects of the legislation:

Findings

The bill outlines findings that highlight concerns about current practices in schools regarding gender identity issues, alleging that:

• Many schools may be encouraging staff to withhold information from parents about their child’s expression of gender identity or discomfort with their sex.
• Schools may change students’ names and pronouns without parental knowledge, provide alternative clothing options, or allow access to sex-segregated facilities based on a child's expressed identity.
• Such actions are allegedly implemented without parental consent and under covert "gender transition plans," often urged by unions and advocacy groups.
• The psychological impact of these practices on children is considered significant, with potential long-term effects on their health and well-being.
• Congress states that policies disregarding parental authority violate constitutional rights and federal statutes governing parental involvement in education.

Requirements of Parental Consent

The bill mandates that no federal funds can be allocated to elementary or secondary schools unless they comply with the following requirements:

• Schools must not engage in actions that support a child's identity that differs from their biological sex without explicit parental consent.
• Schools cannot encourage or coerce students to withhold information about their gender identity from their parents.
• Schools must keep parents informed regarding any issues related to their child’s discomfort with their sex or gender transition processes.
• There can be no encouragement for parents or students to pursue gender transition interventions without consent.

Rules of Construction

The bill specifies that:

• It does not prevent school employees from reporting imminent threats to a child's safety to appropriate authorities.
• It clarifies parental involvement rights in discussions surrounding a child’s gender transition.

Ensuring Compliance

Federal agencies must ensure compliance with the bill's requirements in applications for federal assistance from state or local educational agencies. This includes:

• Describing steps taken by schools to comply with the bill.
• Providing written policies to the federal agency and families of students.
• Publicly posting compliance policies on school websites.

Civil Action for Violations

The legislation grants affected parties the right to seek civil action against schools or government entities that do not comply with the law. Key points include:

• Qualified parties, such as the Attorney General or affected parents, can sue for violations.
• The court can provide various forms of relief, including financial compensation for legal fees and treatment for damages incurred by children.
• If a suit is found to be frivolous, the defendant may be awarded attorney's fees.

Relevant Companies

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