H.R. 6860

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6860 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6860

To amend the General Education Provisions Act to provide a private 
right of action to parents and eligible students to protect certain 
education-related rights, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Ms. Hageman (for herself and Mr. Grothman) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the General Education Provisions Act to provide a private 
right of action to parents and eligible students to protect certain 
education-related rights, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Parental Rights Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. PRIVATE RIGHTS OF ACTION UNDER FERPA AND PPRA.

(a) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.--Section 444(g) of 
the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g(g)) (commonly 
known as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'') is 
amended to read as follows:
``(g) Office and Review Board.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish or 
designate an office and review board within the Department for 
the purpose of investigating, processing, reviewing, and 
adjudicating violations of this section and complaints which 
may be filed concerning alleged violations of this section.
``(2) Complaints.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
complaints filed pursuant to paragraph (1) are investigated, 
processed, reviewed, and adjudicated not later than 90 days 
after being filed.
``(3) Private right of action.--
``(A) In general.--A parent (or a student who is at 
least eighteen years of age or is attending an 
institution of postsecondary education) who is 
aggrieved by a violation of this section by an 
educational agency or institution may bring a civil 
action in an appropriate district court of the United 
States against such educational agency or institution 
for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, or 
reasonable attorney's fees and costs with respect to 
the violation.
``(B) Administrative remedies not required.--A 
civil action under subparagraph (A) may be commenced, 
and relief may be granted, without regard to whether 
the party commencing the action has sought or exhausted 
any available administrative remedies.
``(C) Intervention of attorney general.--A court 
may, in its discretion, permit the Attorney General to 
intervene in a civil action brought under subparagraph 
(A) if the Attorney General certifies that the action 
is of general public importance.
``(4) Prohibition.--Except for the conduct of hearings, 
none of the functions of the Secretary under this section shall 
be carried out in any of the regional offices of the 
Department.''.
(b) Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.--Section 445(f) of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232h(f)) (commonly known 
as the ``Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment'') is amended to read as 
follows:
``(f) Office and Review Board.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish or 
designate an office and review board within the Department of 
Education to investigate, process, review, and adjudicate 
violations of the rights established under this section.
``(2) Complaints.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
complaints filed pursuant to paragraph (1) are investigated, 
processed, reviewed, and adjudicated not later than 90 days 
after being filed.
``(3) Private right of action.--
``(A) In general.--A parent (or a student who is at 
least eighteen years of age or is an emancipated minor 
under an applicable State law) who is aggrieved by a 
violation of this section by an educational agency or 
institution may bring a civil action in an appropriate 
district court of the United States against such 
educational agency or institution for declaratory 
relief, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney's 
fees and costs with respect to the violation.
``(B) Administrative remedies not required.--A 
civil action under subparagraph (A) may be commenced, 
and relief may be granted, without regard to whether 
the party commencing the action has sought or exhausted 
any available administrative remedies.
``(C) Intervention of attorney general.--A court 
may, in its discretion, permit the Attorney General to 
intervene in a civil action brought under subparagraph 
(A) if the Attorney General certifies that the action 
is of general public importance.''.
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