SW News: Arkansas lawmakers approved a bill requiring parental consent before allowing teachers to refer to transgender pupils by the pronouns and names they use. It is the latest among the series of bills relating to transgender policy.

The lawmakers approved the bill on Wednesday in 19 to 5 votes, and it's now on the way to the governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Under the proposal, using a pronoun that is "inconsistent" with a minor student's biological sex or a name that is not on the student's birth certificate requires parental consent in public schools, including colleges and universities. Also, it would be illegal for schools to demand that teachers use the pronouns or names that their students do.

The new bill would formally permit or mandate schools to dead name transgender pupils or disclose them to their parents without consent. According to those who support the legislation, the bill comes to the rescue of a teacher, under the risk of losing the job for not wanting to use a name or pronoun a kid uses.

The bill's Senate sponsor, Mark Johnson, said, "What it really comes down to is a teacher protection act."

Arkansas introduced several policies relating to gender ideology earlier this year. This includes banning gender-affirming care for children and prohibiting transgender students from using the corresponding to their gender identity other than their biological sex.

Meanwhile, Idaho passed a law to prevent medical professionals from prescribing puberty-blocking medicines and conducting gender reassignment surgeries for young people.

Similarly, the North Dakota Senate has approved several proposals restricting transgender policies in daily life, employment, education, sports, and health care. Due to the restrictions, doctors won't be able to provide gender-affirming treatment to minors.

In addition, Kansas is considering outlawing transgender athletes from participating in female and women's sports from kindergarten through university.