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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3454
Sponsored by Representative BOICE
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells some schools to tell some students about adoption resources. (Flesch
Readability Score: 74.8).
Requires public education programs to provide students with information about adoption when
the students are provided with information about contraceptives or sexually transmitted infections.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the provision of adoption information to students; creating new provisions; and amending
ORS336.455.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. A public education program, as defined in ORS 329.901, shall provide infor-
mation explaining current adoption practices in this state and where to find adoption re-
sources and support in this state, when:
(1) Contraceptives are discussed or dispensed by personnel of the public education pro-
gram or where the public education program is provided;
(2) Sexually transmitted infections are discussed by personnel of the public education
program;or
(3) Testing for sexually transmitted infections is facilitated by the public education pro-
gram or made available where the public education program is provided.
SECTION 2. ORS 336.455 is amended to read:
336.455. (1) Each school district shall provide age-appropriate human sexuality education courses
in all public elementary and secondary schools as an integral part of the health education curric-
ulum.
(2) Course material and instruction for all human sexuality education courses shall enhance
students’ understanding of sexuality as a normal and healthy aspect of human development.Course
instruction shall:
(a) Be medically accurate.
(b) Be comprehensive.
(c) Include information about responsible sexual behaviors and hygienic practices that eliminate
or reduce the risks of pregnancy and the risks of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus,
hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections. Information about those risks shall
be presented in a manner designed to allay fears concerning risks that are scientifically groundless.
(d) Promote abstinence for school-age youth and mutually monogamous relationships with an
uninfected partner for adults as the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and the transmission
of sexually transmitted infections. However, abstinence may not be taught to the exclusion of other
material and instruction on contraceptive and infection reduction measures. Human sexuality edu-
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1885 HB3454
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cation courses shall acknowledge the value of abstinence while not devaluing or ignoring those
students who have had or are having sexual intercourse.
(e) Include a discussion about the characteristics of the emotional, physical and psychological
aspects of a healthy relationship and a discussion about the benefits of delaying pregnancy beyond
the adolescent years as a means to better ensure a healthy future for parents and their children.
Students shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding both the
health benefits and the possible side effects of all forms of contraceptives, including the success and
failure rates for prevention of pregnancy.
(f) Stress that sexually transmitted infections are serious possible outcomes of sexual contact.
Students shall be provided with statistics based on the latest medical information regarding the ef-
ficacy of all methods of sexual protection in preventing sexually transmitted infections, including
human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
(g) Provide students with information about Oregon laws that address young people’s rights and
responsibilities related to childbearing [and], parenting and adoption.
(h) Advise students of the circumstances in which it is unlawful under ORS 163.435 and 163.445
for persons 18 years of age or older to have sexual relations with persons younger than 18 years
of age to whom they are not married.
(i) Teach students that no form of sexual expression is acceptable when the expression phys-
ically or emotionally harms oneself or others and teach students not to make unwanted physical and
verbal sexual advances, and how to decline unwanted sexual advances or accept the refusal of un-
wanted sexual advances.Students shall be taught that it is wrong to take advantage of or to exploit
another person. Materials and information shall be presented in a manner sensitive to the fact that
there are students who have experienced sexual abuse.
(j) Validate through course material and instruction the importance of honesty with oneself and
others, respect for each person’s dignity and well-being, and responsibility for one’s actions.
(k) Assist students in the development and practice of effective communication skills, the de-
velopment of self-esteem and the ability to resist peer pressure.
(L) Encourage family communication and involvement to help students learn to make responsible
decisions.
(3) Any course in any public elementary and secondary school, the main purpose of which is to
address human sexuality education or sexually transmitted infections, including human
immunodeficiency virus, or both, must emphasize that abstinence from sexual contact is the only
method that is 100 percent effective against unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections
and human immunodeficiency virus when transmitted sexually. Abstinence must be stressed, but not
to the exclusion of other material and instruction on contraceptive and infection reduction meas-
ures. Courses described in this subsection must acknowledge the value of abstinence while not de-
valuing or ignoring those students who have had or are having sexual intercourse.
(4) Nothing in this section prohibits instruction in sanitation, hygiene or traditional courses in
biology.
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