MontanaHB 47169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise education laws related to human sexuality and identity instruction

Sponsored By: Jedediah Hinkle (Republican)

Became Law

Schools and EducationHealth

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Advance notice and open materials for families

Beginning July 1, 2025, schools must give parents 5 to 14 school days’ notice before any event or the first use of materials on these topics. Only the first notice is required. Each year, the district must contact you, using your most recent contact info on file, about courses that include human sexuality or identity lessons. The notice must outline basic content, how to review materials, how to withdraw your child, and that identity lessons need your written permission. Districts must post an annual notice with links to curriculum summaries and a calendar, following copyright law. All related materials must be open for public inspection before use, and the district must keep an annual curriculum summary available as public information.

Enforcement and start date for schools

Beginning July 1, 2025, school trustees must report to the Board of Public Education when, after an investigation, they find someone knowingly or repeatedly broke these instruction rules. All parts of this law take effect on July 1, 2025.

Parents control sex and identity lessons

Beginning July 1, 2025, you can withdraw your child from any human sexuality lesson, class, or event. The school treats the missed time as an excused absence under 20-5-103. The school also cannot let your child attend identity instruction without your written permission. You may give consent at the start of the year or semester and cancel it anytime by writing to the superintendent.

Ban on abortion providers in sex ed

Beginning July 1, 2025, schools may not let abortion service providers or their affiliates offer, sponsor, or furnish materials or instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases. This applies to students and school staff.

What counts as instruction and teacher answers

Beginning July 1, 2025, the law defines what counts as human sexuality and identity instruction. It includes teaching about intimate relationships, sexual anatomy, reproduction, STIs, sexual acts, sexual orientation, gender identity, abstinence, contraception, and reproductive rights. Instruction covers any planned learning by the district or invited guests, in any setting or format. A teacher may answer an unexpected student question to resolve it or keep the class civil. That limited answer does not count as this instruction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jedediah Hinkle
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Daniel Emrich
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 272 • No: 171

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 28 • No: 20

House vote • 4/9/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 30 • No: 19

House vote • 3/20/2025

Rerefer to Education-Neumann

Yes: 27 • No: 23

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 56 • No: 42

House vote • 3/4/2025

AMD-HB0471.001.002 Nikolakakos M DO PASS

Yes: 75 • No: 24