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A TEXAS bill is cracking down on students who use litter boxes and wear animal accessories like leashes and tails in class.
The Furries Act would prohibit students from identifying or presenting as anything other than human in public schools.
The proposed law, submitted by state Representative Stan Gerdes on March 13, has raised eyebrows across the state and targets what some have called a growing trend of “furries” in classrooms.
Furries are people interested in animal characters with human characteristics who create “fursonas” to live out an alternate persona of those characters with costumes, art, and roleplaying.
The proposed Furries Act bans behaviors such as meowing, barking, wearing animal-like ears, licking themselves, and even using litter boxes to relieve oneself.
Also included are collars, leashes, and fur accessories that aren’t designed for humans, according to local Fox affiliate KDFW.
The bill goes even further by outlawing students from creating organizations or clubs related to such behavior and promoting it as socially acceptable.
The controversial bill was introduced in the Texas legislature after reports of students engaging in these behaviors at school raised concerns.
Under the new law, students could face serious consequences for violating the rules, including suspension, expulsion, or placement in a juvenile justice education program.
For educators, failing to enforce the law would result in fines.
The penalties start at $10,000 for the first offense and could rise to $25,000 for repeat violations.
The bill clearly demands students must present themselves as human at all times, except during specific exemptions.
The exceptions include Halloween or school dress-up events, which are limited to five days per year, and theater performances.
Additionally, students would be allowed to dress as school mascots, but anything beyond that would be banned.
Governor Greg Abbott backed the bill at a Texas Pastor Council event in Austin, claiming some rural schools are dealing with students dressing as cats and using litter boxes.
He said the issue has grown enough that Gerdes introduced a bill to ban furries in Texas public schools, according to The Center Square.
WHAT BEHAVIORS ARE BANNED?
The bill outlines several prohibited “non-human
- Using a litter box at school
- Wearing animal accessories like: TailsLeashesCollarsAccessories designed for petsFur (other than natural human hair or wigs)
- Tails
- Leashes
- Making animal noises like barking, meowing, or hissing
- Licking oneself for grooming
- Collars
- Pet-designed accessories
- Fur (except natural human hair or wigs)
- Animal-like ears
- Items not historically made for humans
It’s unclear how widespread the issue is, but some say the bill targets a minority group of students who participate in “furry” culture.
The majority of furries are in their late teens or early 20s, according to a 2020 survey.
In Texas, the bill has drawn the attention of both supporters and opponents.
Proponents argue it’s necessary to maintain discipline in schools, while opponents worry about discrimination.
The act has also sparked outrage among some who feel it infringes on personal expression.
If passed, the Furries Act would take effect immediately with a two-thirds majority vote from the Texas House members.
The law would go into effect on September 1, 2025.
