June 24, 2026
Mr. Banks (for himself, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under such Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibiting funding for sexually oriented material
Section 8526 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7906) is amended—
(1)
by striking No funds under this Act may be used—
and inserting the following:
(a) General prohibitions
No funds under this Act may be used—; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(b) Prohibiting funding for sexually oriented material
(1) In general
No funds under this Act may be used to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, including any program, activity, literature, or material that exposes such children to nude adults, individuals who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing.
(2) Rule of construction
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the use of funds under this Act for, or otherwise limit or interfere with, teaching—
(A)
standard science coursework, including biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, cytology, genetics, ecology, human health, or human anatomy and physiology;
(B)
the texts of major world religions;
(C)
classic works of literature; or
(D)
classic works of art.
(3) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Classic works of art
The term classic works of art means the works of art depicted, referenced, or otherwise represented in Smarthistory guide to AP Art History, volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (2019–2020), published by Smarthistory.
(B) Classic works of literature
The term classic works of literature means the works of literature (including translations of such works)—
(i)
included in the Great Books of the Western World (second edition, 1990), published by Encyclopaedia Britannica;
(ii)
referenced in the article
Classics Every Middle Schooler Should Readby Thomas Purifoy, Jr. and published by Compass Classroom (as such article appeared on the date of enactment of this subsection); and(iii)
referenced in the article
Classics Every High Schooler Should Readby Mary Pierson Purifoy and published by Compass Classroom (as such article appeared on the date of enactment of this subsection).(C) Sexually oriented material
The term sexually oriented material means material that—
(i)
includes any depiction, description, or simulation of sexually explicit conduct (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 2256(2) of title 18, United States Code); or
(ii)
involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism.