Nevada lawmakers are considering legislation that would fundamentally change how parents authorize their children’s participation in sex education classes across the state.
The Proposed Change
Assembly Bill 205, now before the Nevada Senate Committee on Education, would switch the state’s sex education permission system from an “opt-in” to an “opt-out” model. Under current law, parents must sign a form giving permission for their children to attend sex education classes.
The proposed bill would instead require parents to sign a form only if they don’t want their children to participate. If parents don’t submit the opt-out form, children would automatically be enrolled in these classes.
The bill mandates that schools notify parents about this form no later than four weeks after the school year starts or four weeks before the sex education course begins, whichever occurs first. AB 205 would also allow parents to sign this form anytime during the school year to withdraw their child from sex education classes.
Arguments from Bill Sponsors
At Monday’s hearing, bill sponsor Assemblymember Heather Goulding, D-Sun Valley, called AB 205 a “focused, narrowly tailored bill that proposes a simple but meaningful change” to Nevada law. She argued that allowing parents to opt out of sex education classes protects parental rights while minimizing “administrative burdens on families and educators.”
Goulding noted that Nevada is one of only five states requiring parents to “affirmatively opt in” for their children to attend sex education classes. According to her, 93% of Nevada parents already choose to enroll their children, while only 2% actively opt out. She highlighted that another 5% of parents fail to respond to permission forms, meaning those children miss these classes.
“The consequence of maintaining the status quo is clear. Students, particularly the most vulnerable [and] students with disengaged parents, are at a higher risk of suffering the consequences of engaging in risky behavior simply because their parents didn’t return a permission slip,” Goulding said.
Medical Community Support
Dr. Sandra Coch, representing the Nevada section of the American College of OBGYNs, testified in support of the bill. “Knowledge is power. Children need to be equipped with tools that can help them to avoid being victims of child abuse, grooming, internet blackmail, sexting, unplanned pregnancies, sex trafficking and sexually transmitted diseases,” Coch stated.
She added, “They need to know how to ask for help and who to reach out to if they are being victimized or in trouble.” Coch argued that due to the current state law, thousands of Nevada students are unable to receive this education.
Opposition from Conservative Leaders
Jim DeGraffenreid, national committeeman for the Nevada GOP, testified against the bill. He argued that changing from the current policy to an opt-out system would create “an additional step for a parent to refuse attendance” and that “this is not good policy” because parents have the right to know beforehand what “classes their children are taking.”
DeGraffenreid pointed out that the current system is working well because a large number of parents already participate in the opt-in process. He questioned whether bringing “this small percentage of nonresponders into the system will have a meaningful effect on the high rates of activity and associated consequences.”
He also expressed concern about curriculum development, noting that while local school boards should determine the curriculum, outside special interest groups often influence content at the local level, making the opt-in policy “critical.” DeGraffenreid concluded, “We believe that parents should need to opt-in to curriculum that they may disagree with.”
Impact on Limited Government Principles
For conservatives who value limited government, this bill represents a significant shift in the relationship between parents, schools, and the state. The current system places decision-making authority firmly with parents, requiring their active consent before children receive this instruction. The proposed change would instead assume consent unless parents take specific steps to refuse.
This fundamental shift raises important questions about who has primary authority over children’s education on sensitive topics – parents or government institutions.
Next Steps
If passed, AB 205 would take effect July 1, 2025, impacting the 2025-26 school year. The bill must still complete the legislative process before becoming law.
For those concerned about this change, contacting state senators, attending public hearings, and joining with like-minded parent groups could help ensure their voices are heard as the bill progresses.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
