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HR5116119th CongressWALLET

Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act

Sponsored By: Representative Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

Introduced

Summary

Requires parental consent before schools take actions affirming a minor's gender identity. It would condition federal education funding on schools following explicit parental-consent rules and create a private right for parents and the Attorney General to sue over violations.

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  • Families: Parents would have to give express consent before a school changes records, uses a different name or pronouns, allows access to different clothing or facilities, or refers a minor to a medical provider for a gender-transition procedure.
  • Schools and districts: To keep federal funds they would need to adopt, publicly post, and provide copies of parental-consent policies and describe steps to ensure compliance to federal agencies. The bill also preserves staff authority to report imminent threats to safety.
  • Legal remedies: A parent or the Attorney General could bring suit without first exhausting administrative remedies. Courts could award injunctive or declaratory relief, reasonable attorneys' fees, and payments for treatments or therapy to "repair harm" as determined by the parent and the child's medical providers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Parents could sue schools for violations

If enacted, the Attorney General or a parent could sue a school or related government body over an actual or threatened violation. They would not need to use school or agency grievance steps first. A court could order the school to stop the practice, declare rights, and award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a winning parent. The court could also order payment for treatments or therapy to repair harm from pursuit of gender transition, as determined necessary by the parent and the child’s medical providers. A winning defendant could get fees only if the suit is found frivolous.

How the bill defines sex terms

If enacted, the bill would define key terms for this section. Male and female would be based on reproductive functions, with exceptions for certain congenital or similar conditions. Gender transition would mean moving from identifying with one’s sex to a different self‑proclaimed identity. It would define who can sue, what counts as a violation, and which K–12 schools and government bodies are covered. These meanings would guide how the consent and enforcement rules apply.

Parental consent rules for K–12 schools

If enacted, K–12 schools that get federal money would need a parent’s express consent before helping a student under 18 with gender‑transition steps. Staff would be barred from hiding related information from parents or urging students to keep it from them. Schools could not pressure parents or students to pursue transition‑affirming interventions. State and local agencies would have to show how each school will follow these rules, give families the written policy, and post it online. Staff could still contact authorities about an imminent physical threat. Parents would keep the right to be involved, subject to due process.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

IL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 9/4/2025

  • Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/15/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/15/2025

  • Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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