Bill > SB1866

This bill, titled the "Oklahoma Sexual Education Reform and Parental Rights Protection Act," enacts new provisions and amends existing laws to grant parents greater control over their children's sexual education in schools. It defines "comprehensive sexual education" or "sexual risk reduction" as instruction that may include advocacy for sexual activity outside of marriage, promotion of non-heterosexual orientations, teaching explicit sexual techniques without emphasizing abstinence, or discussing gender identity outside the male/female binary without focusing on biological sex. Conversely, "optimal sexual health education" or "sexual risk avoidance" is defined as instruction emphasizing abstinence, the risks of premarital sex, monogamous heterosexual relationships within marriage, and parental involvement. The bill mandates that school districts must obtain written consent from parents or legal guardians before a student can participate in any comprehensive sexual education, sexual risk reduction, optimal sexual health education, or sexual risk avoidance instruction. It also requires school districts to make curriculum and materials for these classes available on their websites and for parents to review, and to provide advance written notification to parents about such instruction, including their right to provide written consent. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that these types of classes or programs can only be taught by certified teachers employed by the school district, prohibiting outside organizations from leading them, and restricts the use of textbooks and instructional materials to those approved by the State Textbook Committee, with school districts forbidden from using state funds to purchase unapproved materials. The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2026.

Education

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1866&Session=2600