Parents Opt-in Protection Act
Latest action (21 Jul 2026): Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
What this bill does
H.R. 4986, the Parents Opt-in Protection Act, would amend the Protection of Pupils' Rights provisions in the General Education Provisions Act. It would change existing law so that a student cannot be required to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals certain personal information—such as about the student or their family—without prior written consent, obtained specifically for that survey. The bill strengthens current requirements by replacing general "prior consent" with "prior written consent" and specifying that such consent must be given for the particular survey involved, rather than as a blanket approval.
The bill primarily affects students in schools that receive federal funding, along with their parents and school administrators. For adult or emancipated minor students, the written consent would need to come from the student; for unemancipated minors, it would need to come from a parent. This would apply specifically to surveys covered under existing pupil-rights protections, adding a documented, survey-specific consent requirement rather than a general one.
The bill was introduced on August 15, 2025, by Rep. Mary Miller and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has since been ordered to be reported, in amended form, by a committee vote of 18 to 15. The next step would be consideration by the full House of Representatives.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on July 21, 2026.
Timeline
21 Jul 2026
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4986 do?
- H.R. 4986, the Parents Opt-in Protection Act, would amend the Protection of Pupils' Rights provisions in the General Education Provisions Act. It would change existing law so that a student cannot be required to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals certain personal information—such as about the student or their family—without prior written consent, obtained specifically for that survey. The bill strengthens current requirements by replacing general "prior consent" with "prior written consent" and specifying that such consent must be given for the particular survey involved, rather than as a blanket approval. The bill primarily affects students in schools that receive federal funding, along with their parents and school administrators. For adult or emancipated minor students, the written consent would need to come from the student; for unemancipated minors, it would need to come from a parent. This would apply specifically to surveys covered under existing pupil-rights protections, adding a documented, survey-specific consent requirement rather than a general one. The bill was introduced on August 15, 2025, by Rep. Mary Miller and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It has since been ordered to be reported, in amended form, by a committee vote of 18 to 15. The next step would be consideration by the full House of Representatives.
- Has H.R. 4986 become law?
- Not yet. As of 21 Jul 2026, H.R. 4986 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4986?
- H.R. 4986 was sponsored by Rep. Mary Miller [R-IL15] (Republican-IL), with 16 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4986?
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15. (21 Jul 2026).
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