Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act of 2025

This bill ties federal school funding to parental consent on gender-related changes for students under 18. Schools must not change names, pronouns, facility use, or make referrals for gender transition without a parent’s clear permission. Staff may not hide or discourage sharing this information with parents, and may not push families toward any transition steps. An exception allows staff to contact authorities if there’s an imminent safety risk, like suspected abuse .

To get federal funds, school districts must file and share written policies showing how they will follow these rules, and post those policies online. Families can sue to enforce the rules. Courts can order changes, award attorney’s fees, and require payment for treatment or therapy the parent and child’s medical providers decide is needed. If a suit is frivolous and the school wins, the school can get its attorney’s fees covered .

• Who: Public elementary and secondary schools, their districts and state agencies; students under 18 and their parents
• What changes: No gender-related accommodations or referrals without parental consent; no hiding information from parents; policies must be provided to families and posted online; allows lawsuits to enforce the rules
• Safety exception: Staff can contact authorities if a student faces an imminent threat of abuse