Ohio lawmakers green-light Parents’ Bill of Rights

This week, the bill was passed as part of a broader piece of legislation, Ohio House Bill 8, which includes reforms to religious instruction.

Republican state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, one of the lead sponsors of the bill, said the legislation “acknowledges the fundamental role that parents play in the lives of their children.” 

“We have a responsibility to support and protect the irreplaceable position that only parents can have in their kids’ lives,” he said.

The legislation is now headed to Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) for his signature.

Swearingen and state Republican Rep. Sara Carruthers, the other lead sponsor, said the Parents’ Bill of Rights will ensure sexuality content taught in schools is age-appropriate and require schools to notify parents if their child requests a change of gender recognition.

“Schools should not have the broad authority to keep secret information about someone’s child,” Republican state Sen. Andrew Brenner, Senate Education Committee chairman, said before the bill was brought to a vote.

Critics say the legislation is anti-LGBTQ and will force school personnel to “out” gay or transgender-identifying students.  

“This bill’s vague language creates an environment of fear and division, putting LGBTQ+ students at risk and eroding the trust that educators work hard to build with their students and families,” said Jenna Wojdacz, assistant vice president of education at Ohio Center for Sex Education, after the measure passed.

Carruthers pushed back against opponents’ allegations when the bill cleared the Ohio House last June. 

“It has nothing to do with LGBTQ+; it never did, it shouldn’t,” she said. 

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Also included in the Ohio bill passed Wednesday is legislation requiring school districts to allow students to be excused from school to receive off-site religious instruction.

The Religious Released Time Amendment, backed by ministries such as LifeWise Academy and School Ministries Ohio, changed the legal language that said public schools “may” allow released time for religious instruction to say they “shall,” or must, allow it.