Senate narrowly approves bill requiring parental authorization for certain student surveys

Senate Bill 21-05, requiring parental review and written authorization before administering third‑party surveys that ask students direct personal health and behavior questions, passed the Senate 25–22 on Feb. 20, 2025 after extensive floor debate.

Sponsor Senator Beard said the bill is narrowly focused: it governs surveys administered to students that solicit personal health or behavior information (the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, or YRBS, was discussed at length). The bill would require parents or legal guardians to review the survey content and provide written authorization before their child may participate; it would prohibit third‑party surveys administered through a school other than those administered by the Department of Public Instruction without parental authorization. Beard said the measure does not ban surveys but shifts the default so parents explicitly authorize participation.

Opponents — including Senator Axman and several committee members — warned the bill could hinder collection of public‑health data that state programs and federal grants use for needs assessments and program evaluation. Axman reviewed many state programs that rely on YRBS data (maternal and child health grants, tobacco-control, school nursing, domestic violence prevention, cancer prevention, DOT highway-safety, and more) and argued the survey is subject to multiple local controls: districts and schools choose to participate, parents may opt out and survey questions can be removed locally. Axman and others said local remedies should be pursued rather than a statewide statutory change that could reduce the availability of valuable data.

Supporters said many parents were not adequately notified under current practice, that some survey questions are explicit, and that parents deserve clear prior notice and the right to authorize their children’s participation. Senator Gearhart described surveying parents and students who said they were unaware of the survey and that some students were embarrassed by certain questions. Senator Baucher pointed to specific questions on the YRBS addressing suicide and sexual behavior and argued parental review was appropriate.

Floor debate included back-and-forth on whether parents already receive sufficient notice and opt-out opportunities; some senators said notification often occurs but varied by district. Senators urging a no vote warned of lost statewide data and programmatic consequences if participation fell. After extended debate, the Senate approved the bill 25–22.

The record shows the sponsor and opponents agreed local adjustment and better notification were options, but the enacted language imposes a statewide parental-authorization requirement for specified third‑party surveys that ask personal health/behavior questions.