Stop the Sexualization of Children Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7661
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-02: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 632.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T19:06:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 7661: Stop the Sexualization of Children Act
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to prohibit the use of funds provided under the Act for any programs, activities, literature, or materials aimed at children under age 18 that include sexually oriented material. The stated goal is to prevent federal education funding from supporting content that exposes minors to certain explicit or related topics.
Key Provisions Outlined
- General Structure: The bill modifies Section 8526 of the ESEA by reorganizing existing prohibitions into subsection (a) and adding a new subsection (b) focused on sexually oriented material.
- Prohibition: No ESEA funds may be used to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote programs or activities for children under 18 that include sexually oriented material, or to provide or promote such literature or materials. This covers content exposing children to nude adults, individuals stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing.
- Definition of Sexually Oriented Material: Includes any depiction, description, or simulation of sexually explicit conduct (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2256(2)(A) and (B)), or any material involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism.
- Rule of Construction: The prohibition does not restrict funds for standard science coursework (such as biology or human anatomy), texts of major world religions, classic works of literature or art (defined by specific referenced publications), or security measures to help students recognize and respond to child sexual trafficking.
- Effective Date: The amendments apply upon enactment, with the bill reported with an amendment in the House.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
The legislation adds a new, specific funding prohibition to the existing general restrictions in Section 8526 of the ESEA. This expands the list of restricted uses of federal education funds to explicitly cover content related to gender dysphoria, transgenderism, and certain explicit depictions, while carving out exceptions for established educational and classic materials.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Limits how state and local education agencies, schools, and districts receiving ESEA funds (such as Title I or other formula grants) can allocate those resources, potentially requiring reviews of curricula and materials to ensure compliance.
- On Citizens: Restricts access in federally funded K-12 settings to certain programs or materials for students under 18, which may affect classroom instruction, library resources, and extracurricular activities involving the defined topics.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Schools, school districts, and educators using ESEA funds.
- Students under the age of 18 and their parents.
- State education departments responsible for fund allocation and compliance.
- Publishers and creators of educational materials that may fall under the prohibited categories.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Introduces new compliance requirements tied to federal funding, with potential for administrative enforcement through the Department of Education; the definitions reference existing federal criminal law on explicit conduct.
- Constitutional: May raise questions regarding the balance between federal funding conditions and local control over education content, though the bill includes a rule of construction to preserve certain academic subjects.
- Political: Focuses on restrictions related to gender-related topics and explicit content in schools, which could influence debates over curriculum standards and parental involvement in education policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Cosponsors (22)
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-02: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 632.
- 2026-07-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-727.
- 2026-07-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-727.
- 2026-03-17: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 13.
- 2026-03-17: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-02-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop the Sexualization of Children Act — issued 2026-02-24 — PDF (4 pages)
- Stop the Sexualization of Children Act — issued 2026-07-02 — PDF (8 pages)