Bill > HB350

This bill requires comprehensive sex education to be taught in all public schools in Mississippi from kindergarten through 12th grade, with several key provisions. The bill mandates that sex education courses must be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and emphasize abstinence as the primary method of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Courses must cover topics such as contraception effectiveness, sexual assault prevention, relationship skills, and legal responsibilities, while ensuring that instruction is free from racial, ethnic, gender, religious, or sexual orientation biases. Parents will have the opportunity to review instructional materials, and students can opt out of the classes with parental written objection. The bill also expands the responsibilities of school nurses and the Office of Healthy Schools to include providing and supporting comprehensive sex education, and it modifies existing state education laws to incorporate these new requirements. Notably, the bill allows local school boards to potentially authorize sex education without abstinence-only instruction, provided the curriculum is approved by a majority vote. The comprehensive sex education program will become mandatory in Mississippi public schools starting July 1, 2025, with the goal of providing students with comprehensive, factual, and age-appropriate information about sexual health and relationships.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0350.xml