Lawmaker Wants Parents to Have More Say in TV Ratings

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman introduced a resolution this week that, if approved by the House, would require transparency in how ratings are assigned and challenged and add content descriptions across all video platforms.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 6/19/2026, 9:58:30 AM EDT

Lawmaker Wants Parents to Have More Say in TV Ratings — Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) speaks at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on July 27, 2023. (House Judiciary Committee/Screenshot via NTD)

A Wyoming Congresswoman is calling on the House to approve a measure that advocates for the development of a television content ratings system that includes more parents and child advocacy organizations in its oversight entity.

Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) introduced a resolution this week that, if approved by the House, would require transparency in how ratings are assigned and challenged and add content descriptions across all video platforms.

"Parents have the right to decide what their children watch, and the current ratings system is robbing them of that right,” Rep. Hageman said in a statement online. “This resolution puts the FCC on notice that transparency is not optional."

Reps. John Rose (R-Tenn.), Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.), and Barry Moore (R-Ala.) are co-sponsoring the resolution.

America's current television ratings framework was designed for the broadcast era, and according to Hageman, does not flag content with LGBT characters, themes, or storylines.

Hageman filed the resolution days before the FCC’s deadline for commentary on an April 22 Public Notice, which examines whether the TV parental ratings system needs to be updated regarding children's programming disclosures.

In response, the Motion Picture Association, the National Association of Broadcasters and NCTA–The Internet & Television Association jointly filed testimony noting that the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board already seeks feedback from parents.

“The TV Parental Guidelines continue to provide an effective tool to help parents and caregivers to make informed viewing choices about age-appropriate programming,” the brief states. “The Monitoring Board plays a vital role in fostering consistent TV ratings across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. The Board is committed to continuing working diligently to further promote consistency and transparency in ratings.”

About 87 percent of parents want TV content ratings to advise them of violence, sexual content, or other sensitive themes like LGBT messaging or characters, in children’s TV programming, according to a Concerned Women for America (CWA) poll.

Currently, the TV industry’s rating system informs parents when programming includes violence and other adult content.

Violence is indicated by the letter V, and S indicates sexual situations.

“We also believe the TV Parental Guidelines Oversight Monitoring Board, which has oversight over the TV content ratings system, must include more parent groups, child advocacy organizations, and independent experts, and fewer industry-aligned stakeholders,” CWA CEO and President Penny Nance said. “How does it make sense that the oversight board is dominated not by parents, but by the industry whose bad behavior necessitated the creation of the ratings system in the first place?”

The TV Parental Guidelines Oversight Monitoring Board did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.