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Utah Senate approves amendment to require abstinence-focused sex education after heated debate
Summary
After several amendments and hours of debate, the Utah Senate on March 1 passed an amended version of House Bill 411 to emphasize abstinence-based instruction in public school sex education, 16–13. Lawmakers raised concerns about removing medically accurate information and the bill's impact on prevention of STDs and sexual-assault education.
The Utah Senate approved House Bill 411 on March 1, advancing an amended measure that narrows the scope of sexual-education instruction in public schools to an abstinence-first approach. The chamber voted 16–13 to send the amended bill back to the House for consideration.
Senator Wadhams, the bill sponsor, told the Senate the legislation is intended to make the state's expectations clear: teachers should "teach only" abstinence before marriage, fidelity after marriage, and "personal skills that encourage individual choice of abstinence and fidelity," and that instruction should reflect current state law. He emphasized that the bill "is brought forward to make it clear what the intention of the state is." (Sen. Wadhams)
Opponents said the bill would restrict teachers from giving medically accurate information that can prevent sexually transmitted diseases and help survivors of sexual assault. Senator Davis said the measure "dangerously eliminates the opportunity for…
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