House panel advances bill requiring one-time human growth and development lesson for high school students

Representative Geiss presented House Bill 1603, which she said adds a human growth and development lesson to Oklahoma public schools and includes a graduation-related requirement with parental notification.

The bill would require a single completion of the lesson sometime between ninth and twelfth grade; Representative Geiss said the language has been modified to be “recommended, on ninth grade through twelfth grade” as a one-time completion. She told the committee the current draft includes an opt-in provision added earlier in the week and said districts could source science-based curriculum already available online.

The bill drew sustained questioning from committee members about whether the measure creates a new graduation requirement and how strictly districts would be bound by the curriculum language. Representative Fugate asked whether the bill “creates a new graduation requirement.” Geiss replied that it does establish a requirement but said students are exempt if they are not included under the opt-in provision and that “there's also another exemption as well.” Representative Archer pressed whether the mandate would be an unfunded requirement for districts; Geiss said she expects districts could use existing, science-based materials rather than incur major new costs.

Members also debated the scope of the curriculum language. Fugate flagged a provision that the curriculum “shall include, but is not limited to,” and asked whether that language could allow full comprehensive sex education under this bill. Geiss said her intent was to focus the measure on fetal development and that she had removed wording she believed could expand coverage to fertilization. She said she would be open to amending the phrase if the committee was concerned it was too open-ended.

Representative Heffner asked about adding prenatal and postnatal care topics; Geiss said she supports future work on that and described the current bill as “a step in that direction.” Committee members also questioned whether materials such as the out‑of‑state “baby Olivia” video would qualify. Geiss said she was not familiar with that particular video before researching possible materials and added, “I would not recommend that video to fulfill this requirement.”

Representative George and others sought clarification about opt-in language. Geiss said the PCS had been amended earlier in the week to include opt-in language (she pointed committee members to page 2, line 17 of the latest draft). Representative Lawson referenced existing state statute on sex‑education materials, citing Title 70 70 O.S. §11-105.1 during questions about parental rights and existing law.

After extended questions, the committee voted to report the bill as due passed. The roll call was recorded as 8 ayes and 2 nays.

The bill will move forward for further consideration at the next stage of the legislative process.