Gender dysmorphia; require school personnel to notify parents of students who request to be referred to as different gender.

HB 1309 would require Mississippi public school staff to notify parents or guardians in writing within seven days if a student publicly identifies as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth or uses gender-segregated school programs, activities, or facilities that conflict with their birth sex. The bill prohibits school staff from being disciplined for refusing to use a student's preferred gender or pronoun and mandates that parents must provide written consent before staff can address a student by their preferred pronoun. Confidential discussions with school counselors about gender identity are exempt from the notification requirement. The legislation aims to involve parents early in decisions about their child's gender identity to foster trust and support student well-being, as stated in its legislative intent.