This story was reported and written by VPM News.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is recommending the General Assembly include language that could out students’ gender identities in a bill through one of his amendments.
As passed by the General Assembly, HB1678 and SB1048 would require school boards to inform students’ families about how to safely store prescription drugs and firearms.
Youngkin’s recommended amendment added language that would require parents to be notified if a student requests faculty or staff to affirm the student’s “gender incongruence” — such as by using pronouns that do not match their legal documents. Any counseling on gender would require a parent’s permission under the recommendation.
Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D–Fairfax), who introduced the bill, said the amendment is not relevant to the original bill and saw Youngkin’s addition as political.
“I was surprised this time, maybe naively, to see the recommendations that came back from him, that had nothing to do with actually helping keep kids safe and had everything to do with just bullying kids,” she said.
Youngkin, speaking to reporters Friday, said he put the language in because he “believe[s] that parents should know what's going on in their children's lives.”
“Some of these biggest decisions that possibly a child can make, some of these school systems still refuse to notify parents,” said Youngkin. State code says parents have a “fundamental right to make decisions” related to education.
In 2023, the Youngkin administration released model policies that are similar to the language the governor used in the recommended amendment. After the ACLU sued to have the policies thrown out, a judge tossed cases on procedural grounds in December.
“Certainly the governor is aware that I have a trans kid,” said Cohen. “I imagine that he thinks he's quite clever to put something that is absolutely not related to the bill to slap that onto the bill.”
The language Youngkin wants included mirrors that of a bill that was not given a hearing this year, sponsored by Del. Nick Freitas (R–Culpeper).
Freitas introduced a version of the bill last year, which was left to die in a House subcommittee. The previous year, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates passed a version from former Republican Del. Dave LaRock, before it was killed in the Democrat-controlled state Senate.
Legislators will consider this recommendation, and Youngkin’s other amendments and vetoes, on Wednesday.
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