A state lawmaker has filed a bill that would prohibit students in Texas public schools from engaging in “non-human behaviors” in classrooms and on campuses.
The Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education, or F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act, would prohibit behaviors such as making animal noises like barking, meowing, or hissing, licking themselves or others, wearing leashes, collars, or other accessories designed for pets, wearing fur, tails, artificial animal-like ears, or costumes to mimic an animal, and using a litter box for urinating or defecating.
The bill provides exceptions for school sports mascots, school plays, Halloween, or designated school dress-up events related to human history.
Students who violate the prohibitions could face removal from the classroom, suspension, expulsion, or placement in a juvenile justice alternative education program.
According to the bill, “mental or emotional injury to a child, … including, in an education setting, allowing or encouraging the child to develop a dependence on or a belief that non-human behaviors are societally acceptable” would constitute child abuse. Failure to enforce the law could result in fines to the school district, starting at $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for each further violation.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville), who reportedly claimed in a written statement to The Dallas Morning News that the bill was in response to an incident at Smithville ISD. However, Gerdes did not provide any specific details about the incident.
“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 written statement. “We just have to keep this nonsense out of our schools.”
“No distractions. No theatrics. Just education. While school mascots, theater performances, and dress-up days remain part of school spirit, this bill ensures that students and teachers can focus on academics – not on bizarre and unhealthy disruptions. Texas schools are for educating kids, not indulging in radical trends,” he added.
Abbott used these claims as another reason to push for school choice vouchers.
“If you have a child in public school, you have one expectation: your child’s going to be learning the fundamentals of education — reading and writing and math and science,” Abbott said, adding that if children are “being distracted by furries, their parents have a right to move their child to a school of their choice.”
One self-proclaimed furry fandom member, Andrew Kaiser, pointed out what he saw as an obvious flaw with the bill, noting that exhibiting non-human behavior is a part of childhood.
“We all know that children play make-believe,” Kaiser told the Dallas Observer. “Children are encouraged to play make-believe. Disney is currently attempting to make billions of dollars every year encouraging people to identify with cartoon animals.”
The F.U.R.R.I.E.S. bill was referred to the House Committee on Public Education last week. If it passes through the committee and is approved by the Texas House and Senate by a two-thirds majority vote, the bill would become law effective immediately. If it passes with a majority of less than two-thirds, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.