Schools won't have to notify parents about gender talks
The legislation from Republican Rep. Logan Manhart sought to require that a school nurse, school counselor, teacher, administrator, or any other staff member employed by a school district or accredited nonpublic school must notify a student's parent or guardian if questions regarding a student's gender confusion or gender dysphoria are discussed with a student.
Bill to end child marriage in SD clears first hurdle
House Bill 1201 as amended by the House Education Committee also would have prohibited them from:
Providing any instruction or presentation to a student with the purpose of studying, exploring, or informing the student about gender identity, gender expression, or the concept that a student's gender may be inconsistent with the student's biological sex at birth;
Encouraging or coercing a student to withhold from the student's parent, legal guardian, or other custodian the fact that the student's perception of the student's gender or sex is inconsistent with the student's sex; or
Withholding from a student's parent, legal guardian, or other custodian, information related to a student's perception that the student's gender or sex is inconsistent with the student's sex.
'This is a parents' rights bill fundamentally,' Manhart said.
Needing 36 yes votes to advance to the Senate, HB 1201 instead failed 28-40.
Republican Rep. Marty Overweg tried to remove the private schools but his amendment failed on a voice vote where the opponents were much louder than the supporters.
'This is an issue we're facing nationwide,' Manhart said in closing. 'It protects parents' rights to know what's going on in their kids' lives.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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