COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A leading advocacy group said a new Ohio bill to prohibit mental health service to minors without parental consent would stifle youth experiencing abuse at home and prematurely "out" LGBTQ+ teens. House Bill 172 was introduced at the Ohio Statehouse in March by Rep. Johna than Newman (R-Troy) and would ban a mental health professional from treating a minor who "presents for the diagnosis or treatment of a gender-related condition" without first obtaining consent from a least one parent or guardian. Columbus City Schools reverts to birth names for transgender students "The general assembly maintains that a parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing and care of the parent's child," the bill states. Newman's bill also reiterates regulations set by Ohio's incoming "Parents' Bill of Rights" law, including a provision requiring schools to provide parents the opportunity to review instructional material that includes "sexuality content." A school is also required to notify a parent of a student's change in counseling services, emotional or physical health, or well-being. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the Parents' Bill of Rights in the video player above. However, Equality Ohio argues both measures will cut off "a crucial lifeline" for LGBTQ+ youth who live in unsupportive homes and confide in their therapist or school counselor. The organization also said HB 172 could prevent all young people, not just those in the LGBTQ+ community, from speaking with a counselor, even in cases of abuse. Dwayne Steward, Equality Ohio's executive director, said HB 172 continues the Ohio Statehouse's trend of "anti-LGBTQ+" legislation and that the measure would force youth out of the closet "in very, very dangerous situations where they're already experiencing crisis." "The bill would remove the confidentiality of a trans student who was experiencing mental health needs, and it could delay or keep a child from going and getting the mental health care that they need," said Steward. "It's extremely dangerous, and another way in which our legislature is failing trans students." Olentangy schools defends LGBTQ+ anti-bullying policies in federal court Steward pointed to a national crisis hotline that said it received a significant increase in calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio within hours after Gov. Mike DeWine signed the Parents' Bill of Rights into law in January. The executive director said trans youth recognize that they're "part of this political conversation," which is leading to "increases within the community when it comes to suicide and self-harm." Still, proponents of the Parents' Bill of Rights and similar measures like Newman's HB 172 assert that the bills ensure parents, and not the government, are making healthcare and education decisions for their children. "Parents don't sign away their rights when their son or daughter goes to school. They have every right to know what is going on inside the classroom, and any suspected abuse possibly coming from inside the home can be reported to law enforcement," Senate Republicans spokesperson John Fortney said in a previous statement. "There is absolutely no reason for information to be concealed." Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, celebrated DeWine's signing of the Parents' Bill of Rights and said the legislation protects children by safeguarding parents' rights to make important decisions. Columbus City Schools bars religious release organizations from giving out candy, trinkets "Whether it's a decision about healthcare, a decision about when a child has a discussion about sexuality, or a decision over whether a child can access a religious released time program like LifeWise Academy, HB 8 puts parents back in control," Baer said. HB 172 has been referred to the Ohio House Health and Human Services Committee, where it could receive hearings open for public testimony. ...read more read less