WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4925

Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jim Banks and 2 co-sponsors

Prohibits using ESEA funds to develop, provide, or promote sexually oriented material or programs for individuals under 18.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4925

Overview

S. 4925, introduced in the 119th Congress, is a bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to prohibit the use of funds under ESEA to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote programs or activities for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under 18 that include sexually oriented material. The bill has co-sponsors including Tommy Tuberville, James Lankford, and Jim Banks. On June 24, 2026, it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Purpose and Intent

  • To restrict federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act from supporting any program, activity, or materials that include sexually oriented content aimed at or accessible to individuals under 18.
  • To prohibit the provision or promotion of sexually explicit or sexually oriented literature or materials to minors using ESEA funds.
  • The underlying aim appears to be strengthening parental or societal controls over sexual content available to minors within federally funded education programs.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Prohibition on use of ESEA funds: Funds provided under ESEA cannot be used to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity that includes sexually oriented material for individuals under 18.
  • Prohibition on materials: ESEA funds cannot be used to provide or promote literature or other materials to minors that contain sexually oriented material.
  • Scope: The restriction specifically targets programs, activities, and materials supported by ESEA funding. It does not specify changes to non-federal funding or to education activities outside the ESEA framework.
  • Enforcement and compliance mechanisms: The bill text (not provided here) would typically establish compliance requirements and potential penalties or remedies for violations, including reporting, auditing, or disallowance of funds. (Note: exact enforcement details are not included in the provided summary.)

Who Would Be Affected

  • Schools, school districts, and other entities that receive ESEA funds (including federal program administrators and grantees) would need to ensure that funded activities and materials do not include sexually oriented content for minors.
  • Suppliers and developers of educational materials funded under ESEA would need to comply with the stricter content restrictions.
  • Education programs and activities that rely on ESEA funding for dissemination of materials would be subject to screening and potential disallowance if they include such content.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction: The bill was introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 24, 2026.
  • Action to date: Read twice and referred to the committee on the same day, indicating the initial stage of legislative consideration.
  • Next steps (typical): The committee would review, potentially mark up, and vote on reported bill language before it can move to the Senate floor for further debate and potential passage. If reported, it would proceed through the Senate process, and, if enacted, would require alignment with the House version (if any) and presidential action.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Educational Content: Schools may reassess curricula and instructional materials funded by ESEA programs to ensure compliance.
  • Federal Funding Compliance: Eligible entities would need to implement oversight to prevent use of ESEA funds for prohibited content.
  • Ambiguities to Note: The provided summary does not include specifics on what constitutes “sexually oriented material,” definitions, or exceptions (e.g., age-appropriate sex education content, safety education). The bill’s text would clarify these terms and any exemptions, as well as enforcement mechanisms and timelines for compliance.
  • Debate Points: Proponents are likely to emphasize protection of minors and parental concerns about sexual content in federally funded education programs, while opponents may raise questions about definitions, scope, or potential chilling effects on educational content.

Summary in Brief

S. 4925 seeks to bar the use of federal ESEA funds to support programs, activities, or materials that include sexually oriented material for individuals under 18. It reaffirms federal oversight of content in federally funded education programs and would require recipients to ensure compliance, with likely enforcement provisions to prevent misuse of funds. The bill is in early committee stages as of the latest action.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.