House Bill 1998 Summary

• Changes sex education participation requirement from parental objection (opt-out) to parental permission (opt-in), requiring written permission before students can participate in sex education classes, programs, tests, surveys, or questionnaires about sexual behavior or attitudes.

• Requires school superintendents or designees to approve all sex education curriculum, materials, and related surveys prior to classroom use, and maintain parental right to inspect these materials.

• Mandates that sex education and related surveys include information about consent (as defined by Oklahoma Title 21, Section 113) and have abstinence as one of their primary purposes.

• Modifies the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey administration to require parental permission before students participate, changing the notification from an opt-out to an opt-in model by requiring written notice that parents "must" opt their student in to participate.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2025, with emergency declaration allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.