Parental Rights Relief Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hageman
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a private federal right to sue for violations of student privacy laws FERPA and PPRA. It would also require the Department of Education to set up a new Office and Review Board to handle privacy complaints.
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- Parents and students 18 or older, postsecondary students, and emancipated minors under state law could bring civil actions for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney's fees.
- Schools and education agencies could be sued in federal court without first exhausting administrative remedies. The Attorney General may intervene in cases the court certifies as of general public importance.
- The Department would have an Office and Review Board to investigate, process, review, and adjudicate complaints and must complete those cases within 90 days. The Secretary may not perform these functions through regional department offices except to hold hearings.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Parents, students could sue over school records
This bill would require the Department of Education to set up an office and review board to handle alleged violations of school privacy rules under FERPA. Complaints filed there would have to be investigated, processed, reviewed, and decided within 90 days of filing. Parents, and students age 18 or older or students attending postsecondary institutions, would be able to bring federal lawsuits for declaratory or injunctive relief and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. They would not have to exhaust Department administrative remedies before suing, a court could allow the Attorney General to intervene in important cases, and the Secretary could not carry out these functions in regional offices except to hold hearings.
Parents, students could sue over school surveys
This bill would require the Department of Education to set up an office and review board to handle alleged violations of pupil rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Complaints filed there would have to be investigated, processed, reviewed, and decided within 90 days of filing. Parents, and students age 18 or older or emancipated minors under State law, would be able to bring federal lawsuits for declaratory or injunctive relief and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. They would not have to exhaust Department administrative remedies before suing, a court could allow the Attorney General to intervene in important cases, and the Secretary could not carry out these functions in regional offices except to hold hearings.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hageman
WY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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