Texas lawmakers are taking a stand against bizarre classroom behaviors with a new bill that’s got parents cheering. Governor Greg Abbott is throwing his full support behind legislation targeting students who believe they’re animals, as shocking reports emerge about distractions in rural school districts.
At a glance:
• Texas State Rep. Stan Gerdes has introduced the FURRIES Act to ban students from acting like animals in public schools
• The bill would prohibit behaviors like barking, hissing, licking, meowing, and wearing tails or fur in educational settings
• Governor Greg Abbott strongly supports the bill, citing disruptions in rural schools where students dress as cats with litter boxes
• School boards would need to adopt conduct codes with penalties including potential suspension or expulsion for violations
• The legislation has been designated as House Bill 54 by Speaker Burrows, indicating its high priority status in the Texas House
Abbott Champions Common Sense Ban On Classroom Distractions
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking decisive action to address what many parents see as absurd behavior infiltrating school classrooms. The governor publicly backed the FURRIES Act, aiming to stop students from engaging in non-human behaviors that distract from education.
Introduced by Republican State Representative Stan Gerdes, the legislation would ban students from wearing animal tails, fur, or leashes, and prohibit animal-like behaviors such as barking, hissing, or meowing. The bill comes as reports surface about students in rural Texas school districts allegedly dressing as cats and even requesting litter boxes in classrooms.
Texas Education Priorities: Learning Over “Bizarre Theatrics”
The FURRIES Act, which stands for Forbid Unhealthy Role-play, Requiring Respect In Educational Settings, has quickly gained momentum in the Texas legislature. Speaker Dustin Burrows reassigned the legislation as House Bill 54, a low bill number give it a high priority status.
Representative Gerdes was blunt about the necessity of the legislation, expressing frustration that it’s even required. “I can’t believe we have to do this, but we cannot allow these types of role-playing distractions to affect our students who are trying to learn or our teachers and administrators who are trying to teach,” Gerdes said in a statement. He added that school mascots, Halloween, theater performances, or “dress-up days” will be unaffected.
School Choice Connection: Parents Deserve Options
Governor Abbott directly connected the issue to his broader push for school choice legislation. He argues that if students are being distracted by inappropriate behaviors in the classroom, parents should have options to move their children elsewhere.
“If you have a child in a public school, you have one expectation, your child is going to be learning the fundamentals of education, like reading, writing, math and science,” Abbott stated. “If they’re being distracted by furries, those parents have a right to move their child to the school of their choice.”
Under the proposed law, citizens could file complaints with the Texas Attorney General’s Office if schools fail to comply with the ban.
