Committee hears bill to require social-media and Internet-safety curriculum in K-12

Representative Melissa Schmidt presented House Bill 30-77, which would establish curriculum standards for social-media and Internet safety for middle and high school students and require districts to provide parent-facing resources and staff supports.

Schmidt said the curriculum would address how social media affects behavior, help students identify grooming and predatory behavior, discuss digital permanence and parental-controls tools, and provide resources for teachers and families. She proposed starting instruction in grades 6 through 12 with an implementation window beginning in the 2027-28 school year but said she is open to adjustments and possibly starting earlier.

Committee members questioned whether the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) or local school boards should approve curricula; Schmidt said she had worked with DESE and that the amendment would give local boards oversight. Members also raised concerns about unfunded mandates and the best way to embed material in existing classes rather than require a separate new course.

Multiple witnesses representing school districts, child-advocacy centers and technology directors supported the bill, noting many districts already provide similar material and that free platforms can reduce cost and burdens on local educators. Testimony emphasized the role of the bill in preventing exploitation and sextortion and in equipping parents and teachers to respond.

Ending: The committee took public testimony from education and child-protection groups; no final vote on the bill was recorded in this transcript.