Legislation would require schools to notify parents if students discuss gender identity
State Rep. Logan Manhart, R-Aberdeen, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on Jan. 22, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Public school counselors, teachers, administrators and staff would be required to alert parents if a student discusses gender identity with them under legislation endorsed by a legislative committee Monday at the state Capitol in Pierre.
Rep. Logan Manhart, R-Aberdeen, introduced House Bill 1201, which would require parental notification of discussions of a student's 'gender confusion or gender dysphoria.'
Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs, also spoke in support of the bill, saying school staff shouldn't be 'pushing these ideas' onto students.
What happens to a school that refuses to obey the Trump ban on transgender athletes?
'If you as a parent want to teach that to your child, that's all for you,' Hulse said.
Several school counselors opposed the bill, saying it was unnecessary since discussing gender identity or diagnosing gender dysphoria is outside of school counselors' scope of practice and code of ethics. They also told lawmakers that they encourage students who are interested in discussing gender identity to talk to their parents.
'House Bill 1201 comes out of fear and misinformation that school counselors and school staff are indoctrinating students into gender sexuality choices that are contrary to family beliefs,' said Kim Goebel, a school counselor for the Gettysburg School District.
Lawmakers who voted against the bill raised concerns about requiring mandatory parental notification without exceptions for abusive situations, and said they wanted to hear from more education professionals and school districts.
The only public education lobbyist to testify on the bill was Rob Monson, executive director for School Administrators of South Dakota. He opposed it, saying the bill's use of 'discussed' is too vague and that the bill lacks an enforcement mechanism.
The House Education Committee passed the bill 8-7. It'll head to the House floor next.
Another bill addressing the intersection of gender identity and education failed to pass the committee Monday. The committee voted 9-5 against a bill that would prohibit schools from disciplining students, teachers and staff who refuse to use a student's preferred name, title and pronouns.
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