This afternoon, the N.C. Senate passed SB 49, more commonly known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, on a party-line vote of 29-18, with all Republicans voting for the bill and all Democrats voting against it. Last week, SB 49 passed both the Senate Education/Higher Education and the Senate Health Care Committees, where NC Family testified in favor of the bill. Last night, SB 49 passed the Senate Rules Committee.
Primary bill sponsors, Senators Amy Galey (R-Alamance), Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), and Lisa Barnes (R-Franklin), shepherded the bill through the State Senate.
Among other things, SB 49 would:
- Allow parents access to review textbooks and other instructional materials upon request, along with procedures to express concerns;
- Prohibit schools from teaching lessons on “gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality” in kindergarten through fourth grade;
- Enable parents to consent or withhold consent to their child’s participation in certain activities and instruction;
- Require teachers to inform parents if their child has requested a change in name or pronouns prior to making any alterations to the student’s identity in school records or by school personnel; and
- Require healthcare practitioners to obtain written parental consent before providing treatment to a minor child.
Senate Bill 49 now moves to the NC House for consideration.
