H.F. No. 174 Summary

• Commissioner of education must identify one or more model comprehensive sexual health education programs by June 1, 2025, in consultation with health commissioner, health education specialists, and other experts.

• Model programs must include medically accurate, age-appropriate, and culturally inclusive content covering human anatomy and reproduction, consent and healthy relationships (including diverse sexual orientations and gender identities), abstinence and pregnancy/STI prevention methods, and substance use relationships to sexual behavior.

• Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, all school districts and charter schools must implement a comprehensive sexual health education program for elementary and secondary students, either by adopting the commissioner's model program or submitting their own program for approval.

• Instruction may be provided by persons without teaching licenses if employed by the school district, charter school, or community organization and determined to have necessary content expertise.

• Commissioner must submit a report to legislature by January 15, 2026, describing how model programs were identified, assistance provided to districts, number of adopters of each model program, and list of districts that requested approval of alternative programs.