(The Lion) — Texas lawmakers want parents, not the government, to have more control over their children’s education.

The Texas Senate passed a Parental Bill of Rights last week along party lines, with Republicans in support.

The legislation would bar diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in public K-12 schools and prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and so-called gender identity.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who introduced the proposal, said he trusts parents to make the right decisions for their children and that his legislation will help public schools better serve their purpose.

“This Texas Parental Bill of Rights sends a clear signal: parents should be informed, involved, and empowered in their child’s education,” Creighton said in a press release. This bill “ensures transparency, protects parental rights, and keeps the focus where it belongs—on educating our children and preparing them for success.

“In Texas, we trust parents, and we’re making sure they have a voice. Parental rights in education are God-given and Texas-protected.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick applauded the measure’s passage and said parents are increasingly frustrated with what he calls “woke indoctrination” in public schools.

“I prioritized SB 12 because parents must be empowered to have an even greater role in their children’s education,” Patrick, a Republican, said in a release. “With more parental input and empowerment, Texas students will be better served by the public education system. I thank Sen. Creighton for his continued commitment to improving public education in Texas.”

The Senate passed a similar measure introduced by Creighton during the last session, but it never came up for a House vote.

Similarly, the Wisconsin State Assembly recently approved a different parental rights bill.

The proposal, which passed 50-43 along party lines last week, would require schools to get written permission from parents before using a student’s so-called preferred pronouns and preferred name. However, it includes an exception for nicknames, such as going by a middle name or a shortened version of the student’s first name.

One of the bill’s authors, Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, said people should know their child’s so-called gender identity.

“Set aside whether or not you think a child should change their name or socially transition at school age, in our schools; we don’t allow our kids to take a Tylenol without permission from parents. We don’t allow them to go on a field trip without permission from parents. We don’t allow their pictures to be shared without permission from parents,” Dittrich told the Wisconsin Examiner. “A major life choice – and transitioning and changing your name, it is a major life choice – is something parents should be involved in.”

It comes as both the New Hampshire House and Senate have passed a parental bill of rights in the past month.

The Granite State rendition would codify a parent’s right to access their child’s school records and review instructional materials while providing religious and medical exemptions from statewide learning assessments, sex education and vaccinations.

Rep. Debra DeSimone, R-Atkinson, said the measure will help restore parental rights that the state has eroded over the years.

“Surely parents are losing the right to parent their children as they see fit,” DeSimone told InDepthNH. “Society has decided you cannot call your school and ask a question and get an answer, you cannot call the doctor and get an answer. It is time for society to step it up and allow parents to parent their children.”

The New Hampshire bill must go to a conference committee to draft a final version of the legislation so both chambers can vote on an identical version and send it to the governor’s desk.

Former Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican, vetoed a similar version of the New Hampshire bill last session. However, current Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who hasn’t addressed this legislation, has said she strongly backs parental rights in education.

“I believe that parents make the best decisions for their children,” Ayotte said at her July 2023 campaign kickoff event. “I’m a strong believer in education freedom…we want to give every child in this state the opportunity to go to the school or the educational setting that is best for them.”