Walsh Co-Sponsors Legislation to Support and Protect Parental Rights in Pennsylvania

January 28, 2025

HARRISBURG – Seeking to fulfill a promise he made on the campaign trail, Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) is co-sponsoring a series of bills introduced in the House of Representatives that focus on protecting the rights of Pennsylvania parents regarding the education and well-being of their children.

“After spending several years advocating for parental rights locally and statewide, I decided to run for office and take our fight to Harrisburg. By co-sponsoring these bills, I am simply following through on the campaign promise I made to parents and children in Luzerne County,” said Walsh. “I look forward to working with my House colleagues in moving these important proposals through the legislative process with the hope many or all of them eventually become law in Pennsylvania.”

The measures co-sponsored by Walsh include:

• House Bill 83, which would increase the age of minor consent to treat for medical, dental and mental health from age 14 to age 16.
• House Bill 110, which would give parents access to a child’s medical records up to age 18, allowing them to make better informed health care decisions.
• House Bill 158, which would protect athletic opportunities for women and girls by ensuring females are not forced to compete against biological males playing on women’s sports teams.
• House Bill 236, which would remove an exemption currently allowing school libraries to possess and exhibit any legally obscene or highly sexual content.
• House Bill 246, which would prohibit state-funded schools from requiring the completion of diversity courses or other classes that negatively impact those students who choose to avoid compulsory indoctrination.
• House Bill 248, which would require parental notification and consent for student participation in school-related clubs and organizations to provide students with the best possible educational experience both inside and outside of the classroom.
• House Bill 249, which would establish uniform criteria for school guidance counselors to provide academic and career development support to all students, while maintaining meaningful interaction with parents.
• House Bill 252, which would require parental notification and written consent for a student to access and use a mental health digital platform promoted or facilitated by school entities to ensure parents remain informed and play an active role in their child’s mental well-being.

Walsh is also a co-sponsor of the following bills, which have not been assigned a number yet:

• Bill would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to enshrine a proper recognition of the male and female sexes to help protect women and girls from biological males seeking to compete with them in sports events and to enter their private spaces.
• Bill would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through fifth grade, require classroom instruction be age appropriate, and mandate that public schools adopt procedures for notifying parents if there is a change in services regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being.
• Bill would ban drag queen shows on public property or in areas that can be seen by minors and classify such events as an adult-oriented business.
• Bill would create an exemption for the flu vaccine as a requirement for school enrollment based on a religious or moral objection.
• Bill would limit the amount of screen time students may be exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) in school and limit the use of AI with respect to student activities and records.

Walsh is a first-term lawmaker representing the 117th Legislative District in Luzerne County, which includes the townships of Black Creek, Butler, Conyngham, Dennison, Dorrance, Fairmount, Foster, Hollenback, Hunlock, Huntington, Lake Lehman, Nescopeck, Ross, Salem, Slocum, Sugarloaf and Union; and the boroughs of Conyngham, Dallas, Freeland, Harveys Lake, Jeddo, Nescopeck, New Columbus, Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, Shickshinny and
White Haven.

Representative Jamie Walsh
117th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepWalsh.com / Facebook.com/RepJamieWalsh