The "Honesty and Transparency in Education Act" mandates that all school employees must respond honestly and completely to written inquiries from parents regarding their children. Specifically, educators are required to reply within 10 business days to requests for material information about a child enrolled in their school. The bill allows for the withholding of information if there is a reasonable belief that disclosure could lead to abuse, abandonment, or neglect, but such instances must be documented. Violations of this requirement will be treated as breaches of the educator code of conduct, subjecting the offending personnel to investigations and potential disciplinary actions.

Additionally, the bill defines "compelling state interest" as situations where a child's physical safety is at risk due to parental actions, justifying state intervention without parental consent. It establishes strict criteria for when information can be withheld from parents, emphasizing that emotional reactions from parents do not constitute a compelling state interest. The legislation also outlines penalties for violations, including the potential suspension or revocation of teaching credentials for educators and fines for third-party contractors. Parents are granted the right to seek legal action for violations, with provisions for recovering attorney fees if they prevail in court. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.