North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill into law this week requiring that teachers inform parents if their child identifies as transgender.
QUICK FACTS:
- Republican Gov. Doug Burgum passed a bill this week that requires public school teachers to tell a parent if their child identifies as transgender.
- “House Bill 1522 largely codifies existing practices while reaffirming the First Amendment right to free speech, requiring restroom accommodations, balancing the rights and interests of students, parents and teachers, and not including the concerning language from the previously vetoed and sustained SB 2231,” Burgum said.
- The Republican governor previously vetoed a similar bill earlier in the year, but said the version he signed into law Monday excluded the “concerning language” that resulted in the veto.
- Burgum also signed two other bills into law on Monday related to transgender issues.
NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN GOV. DOUG BURGUM ON TEACHERS HAVING LESS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN THE STATE:
“The teaching profession is challenging enough without the heavy hand of state government forcing teachers to take on the role of pronoun police,” Burgum said. “Parents, teachers and administrators using compassion, empathy and common sense can address individual and infrequent situations that may arise.”
BACKGROUND:
- Last month, North Dakota passed a law that would not force public school teachers to use the preferred pronouns of trans-identified students and colleagues.
- The bill was passed with a majority vote in both chambers of the legislature, and would become law even without the governor’s approval.
- Republican lawmakers said the legislation was consistent with Gov. Burgum’s views that parents should be involved in the child’s life.
- Earlier in the month, legislation was signed into law in the state prohibiting transgender children and adults from accessing bathrooms, locker rooms, or showers in dormitories of state-run colleges and correctional facilities that didn’t match an individual’s biological sex.
