The Texas Democrat made the remark while discussing new parental-consent requirements.
Texas Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico is facing renewed scrutiny over past remarks in which he called sex education “maybe the most important topic” students learn in school while questioning a Texas policy requiring parents to affirmatively consent before their children receive the instruction.
The comments came during a July 2022 hearing of the Texas House Public Education Committee, when lawmakers were discussing implementation of House Bill 1525.
The legislation changed Texas policy by requiring schools to obtain written parental consent before students could participate in human sexuality instruction — moving the state from an opt-out system to an opt-in system. The Texas Education Agency later confirmed that HB 1525 imposed the written-consent requirement.
During the hearing, Talarico expressed concern about how many students could miss sex education under the new system.
After hearing an example in which roughly 78 percent of parents opted their children into the instruction, Talarico noted that the remaining share represented a significant number of students not receiving sex education.
He then described the subject as “maybe the most important topic” students would learn in school.
Talarico also questioned the broader implications of making certain subjects dependent upon affirmative parental permission, invoking the teaching of evolution as a comparison.
His remarks put him at odds with supporters of the opt-in requirement, who argued parents should have the final say over whether their children participate in sex education.
Talarico ultimately voted for HB 1525, which was a broad education measure containing numerous provisions beyond sex education. His comments during the hearing, however, made clear his concerns about the parental opt-in provision.
The issue has taken on renewed significance as Talarico campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
Talarico’s record on education and social issues has increasingly come under examination during the race.