Stop the Sexualization of Children Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4925
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T12:57:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under the Act for any program, activity, or materials that include sexually oriented material for children under the age of 18. Its short title is the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act."
Key Provisions
- General Structure: Restructures Section 8526 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7906) by dividing it into a subsection on general prohibitions and a new subsection on prohibiting funding for sexually oriented material.
- Core Prohibition: Bars the use of funds to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote programs or activities, or to provide or promote literature or other materials, for children under 18 that include sexually oriented material. This explicitly covers exposure to nude adults, individuals who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing.
- Rule of Construction: Clarifies that 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 classic works of art.
- Definitions:
- "Classic works of art" refers to specific volumes from the Smarthistory guide to AP Art History (2019-2020).
- "Classic works of literature" includes works from the Great Books of the Western World (second edition, 1990) and referenced articles from Compass Classroom on classics for middle and high schoolers.
- "Sexually oriented material" means material depicting, describing, or simulating sexually explicit conduct (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2256(2)(A) and (B)) or involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill modifies Section 8526 by inserting the new prohibition as subsection (b), while preserving the existing general prohibitions in subsection (a). It introduces detailed definitions and a rule of construction not present in the prior version of the section.
Potential Impacts
- Restricts how state and local educational agencies may allocate funds received under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for curriculum, activities, or resources involving children under 18.
- Requires agencies to ensure compliance when selecting or promoting educational materials, potentially affecting program planning and resource distribution.
- Provides explicit exemptions for certain academic and cultural content to maintain continuity in standard educational practices.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and local educational agencies that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- Public school administrators, teachers, and staff responsible for developing or implementing programs and materials.
- Children under the age of 18 enrolled in schools using these funds, along with their parents or guardians.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Incorporates by reference the federal definition of sexually explicit conduct from 18 U.S.C. 2256, linking the education funding restriction to existing criminal law terminology.
- Establishes precise, enumerated sources for exempted "classic" materials, which could influence interpretation and enforcement of the rule of construction.
- Applies uniformly to all funds under the Act, creating a nationwide standard for permissible uses in federally funded K-12 education settings.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Stop the Sexualization of Children Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (4 pages)