In less than three minutes Wednesday, the state Senate updated Ohio’s “Parents Bill of Rights” (HB 8), but no formal vote took place on the bill.
HB 8 would force all teachers and school staff – including school counselors, therapists, social workers and psychologists – to exclude LGBTQ+ students who confide about them to students’ parents.
The bill also requires notice to parents or guardians regarding LGBTQ+ representation in the elementary and middle school curriculum.
HB 8 was passed by the Ohio House in June 2023. Wednesday’s hearing was the bill’s fourth consideration in the Senate Education Committee.
The changes introduced on Wednesday include:
- A requirement to ensure that “parents have the opportunity to review any instructional materials that contain sexual content.” Previously, the language only required parental notification.
- Previously, the language required parents to be notified of any “changes in student services,” which supporters of the bill acknowledged means introducing LGBTQ+ youth to their parents. The language currently reads “significant change to student services.” The amended draft does not define the subjective word “significant”.
- Adding a novel section allowing for “incidental references to sexual concepts or gender ideology occurring outside of formal instruction or presentations on such topics, including references made during classes and schoolwork.”
The committee voted 5-2, along party lines, to update the bill, with Democrats Catherine Ingram and Vernon Sykes voting against the changes.
Chairman Andrew Brenner said that the changes were inspired by, among others, lawsuit against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law..
“They went to arbitration and came to an agreement between the parties,” Brenner said. “There are a lot of things in it [amended] the bill is what was in that contract.”
Brenner admitted that despite the amendments, the bill still does not enjoy universal support.
“I think it’s going to be something you still won’t support, but it’s better than what we had before,” he said.
If the bill is rejected by the Senate Education Committee, HB 8 will go to the full Senate for consideration, and if approved there, it will go to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for approval. 🔥
