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Montana Judiciary hears bill seeking parental opt‑in for identity instruction in schools
Summary
Rep. Jedidiah Hinkle told the House Judiciary Committee HB 471 would clarify prior law, define 'identity instruction' (gender identity/expression, sexual orientation) and require parents to opt in before those materials are introduced; education officials warned the mixed opt‑in/opt‑out model could create administrative confusion for districts.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle opened testimony on House Bill 471, saying the measure aims to clear confusion created by 2021’s Senate Bill 99 and to give parents more control over sensitive classroom material. "The notices are to be presented to parents between 2 and 10 days and only before the first introducing the materials," Hinkle said, describing an annual opt‑in sheet or similar approach to reduce repetitive mailings.
The bill creates a new category called "identity instruction," defined in Hinkle's presentation as teaching that explicitly addresses gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation and would require explicit parental permission before a student could be presented that material. By contrast, "human sexuality instruction" would remain an opt‑out activity under the…
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