The record

LegislationLegislation· May 2026
HR 2616 Passed House — in Senate

Sponsored by Tim Walberg (R)

Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act

Requires parental consent before schools change a student's gender markers or sex-based accommodations.

Tradeoff

Restricts schools from changing gender identity or bathroom/locker room access without parental approval for elementary and middle schoolers. Bars use of federal education funds to teach about gender identity.

What's in it

See official bill text

No measurable federal cost over 10 years; any Department of Education implementation costs are insignificant and subject to .

The federal cost is essentially zero because the bill imposes requirements on schools rather than funding a new program; the policy's real burden falls on schools to obtain parental consent before making changes to student records and accommodations.

H.R. 2616, PROTECT Kids Act · Apr 2025

The House rejected a the bill on May 20, 2026 (207-208). The bill then passed the House 217-198 that same day — now in the Senate.

  1. House

    Introduced

    (Apr 3, 2025)

  2. House

    Committee on Education and Workforce(Apr 3, 2025)

  3. House

    The Committee on Education and Workforce voted to send it to the floor

    Reported 18 - 12(Apr 9, 2025)

    Committee report H. Rept. 119-441.

  4. House

    On

    PROTECT Kids Act

    Failed(Roll #183 · May 20, 2026)

    207 yeanay 208

  5. House

    Passage of the bill

    PROTECT Kids Act

    Passed(Roll #184 · May 20, 2026)

    217 yeanay 198

  6. Senate

    Received from the House

    on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions(May 21, 2026)

Passage votes so far· May 20, 2026· 119th Congress · 2025–2027