SS/SCS/HB 742 - This act creates new provisions relating to diversity initiatives in public entities. DEI IN STATE DEPARTMENTS (Section 1.2030) This act prohibits any state department to expend funds for intradepartmental programs, staffing, or other initiatives associated with "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or "diversity, inclusion, and belonging" or any other similar initiative, as described in the act. This act does not prohibit state departments from following anti-discrimination laws or complying with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. DIVISIVE CONCEPTS (Section 160.2550) Under this act, school districts are prohibited from teaching about The 1619 Project initiative of The New York Times or any successor theory or concept, critical race theory or any successor theory or concept, and any divisive concepts, as such term is defined in the act. School districts are also prohibited from certain actions listed in the act relating to curriculum and instruction. In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies for each grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade, each school district shall adopt knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge as set forth in the act. School districts shall not accept private funding for the purposes of teaching any curriculum substantially similar to critical race theory or The 1619 Project. The Attorney General may investigate school districts for compliance with the act. Any school district that violates the provisions of the act shall have 50% of the district's state aid withheld until the district presents evidence to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that the district is no longer in violation of this section. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 115 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 694 (2022) and provisions in SB 770 (2024) and SB 42 (2023), and is similar to SB 172 (2023), SB 638 (2022), SB 676 (2022), SB 734 (2022), SB 1184 (2022), and a provision in SB 918 (2024). PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS (Section 161.1140) This act creates the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2025." Under this act, no school district shall deny to the parent or guardian of a minor child certain rights. Such rights include the ability to fully review the curricula, books, and other educational materials used by the school attended by their child; the ability to access information on teachers, guest lecturers, and outside presenters who engage with students at the school; the ability to access information on third-party individuals and organizations that receive contracts or other funding through the school; the right to visit their child at school during school hours; the right to access all records generated by the school that concern their child; the ability to access information pertaining to the collection and transmission of data regarding their child; the right to be heard at school board meetings; the right to be notified of situations affecting the safety of their child at school; and the right to object to certain materials that the parent finds inappropriate to be taught to their child. Any person denied one of these rights may bring a civil action for injunctive relief. The attorney general may also bring a civil action for injunctive relief. If a school district is found to have violated this act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may withhold up to fifty percent of the state aid for such district. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 115 (2025) and similar to provisions in SB 770 (2024), SB 776 (2022), and HCS/SS#2/SCS/SBs 42, 42 & 89 (2023). SCOTT SVAGERA