Texas House committee to hear bill banning furries from public schools

The so-called FURRIES Act, a bill that aims to stomp out “non-human” behavior in Texas schools — including the mythical claim that students are using litter boxes — will be heard Tuesday by the state’s House Committee on Public Education.

Yes, you read that right.

Officially titled the “Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education” Act, House Bill 4814, filed by Rep. Stan Gerdes, R-Smithville, would prohibit students from identifying as or cosplaying as anything else “other than a human being.”

If passed, the exceptionally detailed 10-page bill would ban students enrolled in public schools from “meowing or barking;” wearing accessories designed for pets, including leashes and collars; licking oneself as a manner of grooming; and perhaps most bizarrely, “using a litterbox.”

HB 4814 was filed in response to a since-debunked 2022 panic in which right-wing politicos and media figures alleged schools nationwide were providing special treatment — including litter boxes — to students who choose to dress up or identify as animals.

Texas school districts weren’t immune from the right-wing hysteria. In 2022, a Texas GOP candidate falsely accused Round Rock ISD of lowering its cafeteria tables so its students could eat from bowls without using utensils.

Although the claim was almost instantly disproven, it hasn’t stopped Republicans lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, from ginning up furry fear to score political points. During a meeting with pastors in Austin last month to promote his since-passed school voucher bill, Abbott reiterated the debunked claim about school litter boxes.

“In some rural sections of school districts in the state of Texas, they have in their schools what are called furries,” Abbott told the pastors, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. “Y’all know what this is?”

Abbott continued: “Kids go to school dressed up as cats with litter boxes in their classrooms.”

Despite Abbott’s claims, the governor’s office couldn’t provide details or evidence of his allegations when asked, the Chronicle reported.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed  

Related Stories

Capitol Conspiracies: Texas Republicans are flooding the session with bills based on online hoaxes

GOP lawmakers filed recent bills targeting ‘furries’ and ‘chemtrails’ along with proposals based on debunked voter-fraud claims.

Texas GOP bill to ban voluntary gun buybacks draws ire of San Antonio lawmakers

‘How dare you come to me and tell me what the City of San Antonio should do with their tax dollars?’ Sen. Roland Gutierrez said.

This article appears in Apr 16-29, 2025.