What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids Act This bill requires public elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education, to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender on school forms or changing a student's sex-based accommodations. Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.
Vote Breakdown · How Congress voted on HR.2616
House
424-406
PASSED
Independents
424 yea
406 nay
⚠️ 12 members broke with party on this vote
Action Timeline
2026-05-21
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
2026-05-20
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-05-20
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 2616, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Walberg demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further p
2026-05-20
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 217 - 198 (Roll no. 184). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3652)
2026-05-20
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 207 - 208 (Roll no. 183).
2026-05-20
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3660-3661)
2026-05-20
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 217 - 198 (Roll no. 184). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3652)
2026-05-20
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
2026-05-20
Ms. Balint moved to recommit to the Committee on Education and Workforce. (CR H3658)
2026-05-20
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.2616 pass?
HR.2616 is still alive. Current stage: PASSED_ONE. Pass likelihood: 27%.
What does HR.2616 do?
Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids Act This bill requires public elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education, to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender on school forms or changing a student's sex-based accommodations. Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations…
Who sponsored HR.2616?
HR.2616 was sponsored by Tim Walberg (R-Michigan).
Who voted against HR.2616?
12 members broke with their party on this vote.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 2616 RH: Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-01-13 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB Union Calendar No. 377 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 2616 [Report No. 119–441] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 3, 2025 Mr. Walberg introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce January 13, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. Owens , Mrs. Miller of Illinois , Mr. Onder , and Mr. Kiley of California January 13, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 3, 2025 A BILL To require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids Act . 2. Parental consent requirement related to gender markers, pronouns, and preferred names on school forms and sex-based accommodations (a) Requirement As a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. ), a public school that receives funds under such Act shall obtain parental consent before changing a covered student’s— (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered student The term covered student means a minor who is— (A) an elementary school student; or (B) a student in any of the middle grades. (2) ESEA terms The terms elementary school , middle grades , and parent have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). January 13, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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