What is the FURRIES Act? Lawmakers target non-human student behavior in schools

TEXAS – In what might be one of the most unusual bills to come out of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers are now debating whether students should be banned from dressing or acting like anything other than humans while in school.

The Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education (F.U.R.R.I.E.S) Act, sponsored by State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R–Smithville), which—believe it or not—specifically outlaws things like wearing tails, meowing in class, and, yes, using a litter box.

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What is the F.U.R.R.I.E.S Act?

The F.U.R.R.I.E.S Act aims at what it calls “non-human behavior” in public schools, meaning students would no longer be allowed to:

• Wear animal-like accessories—so no tails, collars, or fake ears.
• Make animal noises like barking or meowing (sorry, class clowns, this includes you).
• Use a litter box (a behavior explicitly mentioned in the bill).
• Lick themselves or others (one of the behaviors listed as prohibited).

But wait—there are some exceptions

Don’t worry, the bill isn’t a total fun vacuum. It does allow students to dress up on certain days, including:

• Halloween or a designated day within Halloween week—so your vampire or superhero costume is safe.
• School-approved dress-up days—but schools are only allowed five per year, and the theme has to be tied to history, a holiday, or a school event. (No “dress like your favorite animal” day, though.)
• Performances and mascot duties: if you’re part of the school play or the mascot, you get a free pass.

Breaking the rules could mean serious trouble

The bill isn’t just making suggestions—it has teeth (though not the kind that might be banned under this law).

Students caught disobeying these new guidelines could face suspension or even be expelled.

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Schools will also have to include these rules in their student codes of conduct, and if they don’t, the Texas Attorney General could step in and impose fines.

And here’s where it gets even more controversial

The bill doesn’t just stop at school policy—it also proposes changes to the Texas Family Code.

It suggests that allowing children to believe that non-human behaviors are acceptable could be considered a form of abuse.

That means parents who encourage their kids to express themselves in this way might face legal consequences.

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Governor Greg Abbott has previously supported school policies that emphasize discipline and academic focus, and supporters of the bill argue it aligns with these priorities.

Critics argue that the bill unnecessarily restricts student expression and could disproportionately impact certain communities.

If the bill gets a two-thirds majority in both the Texas House and Senate, it will take effect immediately. Otherwise, it’s scheduled to kick in on September 1, 2025.