Victory Alert: Senate Passes Critical Parental Rights Bill!

Important victory announcement:

Just a little while ago the Senate of Virginia voted to make very clear that procedures need to be in place to ensure parents are notified about, and given the chance to review, any sexually explicit curriculum being used in the classroom.  This isn’t just the fulfillment of a campaign promise – it codifies in law the recognition that parents know their child best and must be given the chance to determine if curricula content is appropriate for their child.

SB 656, a bill sponsored by Senator Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico), requires the Board of Education to establish policies for local school divisions to follow that require each public elementary or secondary school to provide parental notification and review of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and offer alternative instructional material to any student whose parent objects to the curriculum

For more information about this bill, you can read our blogs: Victory Alert: Senate Bends on Parental Review and Open Schools! and Mama Bears Get Results!.

The moment was not without some drama, as we learned right before the Senate took the floor that Senators Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Lynwood Lewis (D-Accomac), both of whom helped to move the bill through the Senate Education and Health committee, were wavering.  While Senator Petersen did change his mind and voted against the bill, Senator Lewis maintained his support for the bill.  We were also excited to see Senator Monty Mason (D-Williamsburg) decided to join with Republicans to vote in favor of the bill.

The bill will now go to the House of Delegates for consideration.  We cannot stress how important the Senate passing this bill is for families, parents and the health of our kids. 

Please take a moment to thank Senator Dunnavant for sponsoring this bill, as well as Senators Lewis and Mason for the courage to break with the members of their party!

Senator Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) - district12@senate.virginia.gov

Lynwood Lewis (D-Accomac) - district06@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Monty Mason (D-Williamsburg) - district01@senate.virginia.gov