By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – Two new laws update sex education in Illinois schools.

One law gives sex education a major overhaul, requiring schools that teach the subject to include things like consent, healthy relationships, gender identity, sexual health, puberty and sexual orientation.

The law was supported on the house floor by Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford).

“This legislation’s primary focus is not about the birds and the bee’s. It’s about equipping our children with age appropriate conversations about how they can be impowered within themselves.”

Lessons on sex education will be for all grades, while parents may opt their kids out of sex education.

“It is not age appropriate,” said Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savannah). “It is sexually charged and in some cases it is not medically accurate and it takes away local control that schools will have to follow the national standards.”

The second law adds lessons about the dangers of sexting. Supporters say students need this information to protect themselves.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].