The Parents Opt-in Protection Act (H.R. 4986) is a proposed law that would require schools to get written permission from parents or adult students before giving surveys that ask about personal topics like sex, mental health, illegal behavior, religion, or family relationships. This means that students would only take part in these surveys if their parents or they themselves (if they are adults) agree in writing.
Supporters of the bill, such as the American Principles Project, argue that it protects family privacy and increases parental involvement in education. They believe that parents should have a say in whether their children participate in surveys on sensitive topics, and that this law would prevent government overreach into family matters.
Critics of the bill point out that requiring written consent could lead to fewer students participating in important surveys, making it harder for schools to identify and address issues like drug use or mental health problems. They also note that this requirement could create more paperwork for schools and reduce the effectiveness of public health efforts aimed at helping students.
The analysis of H.R. 4986: Parents Opt-in Protection Act, sponsored by Mary Miller, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor's top donor industries and the bill's subject matter. The lobbying activity associated with this bill includes various entities, but the disclosed amounts primarily come from healthcare and refrigerant-related industries. Notably, the Marshfield Clinic Health System contributed $60,000, which may indicate a vested interest in healthcare-related provisions, but there is no clear link to the specific provisions of the bill. The total lobbying amounts from the healthcare sector and refrigerant industry do not directly correlate with the bill's focus on parental rights and opt-in policies, suggesting a low risk of conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION | $150,000 |
| MARSHFIELD CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM | MARSHFIELD CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM | $60,000 |
| SOUTHERN IONICS | KEY IMPACT STRATEGIES | $30,000 |
| COALITION FOR THE USE OF SAFE AND EFFICIENT REFRIGERANTS | WILLIAMSON LAW + POLICY PLLC | $20,000 |
| NATIONAL CONSUMER REPORTING ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL CONSUMER REPORTING ASSOCIATION | $5,000 |
| HEALING LODGE OF THE SEVEN NATIONS | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| PUEBLO OF SANTA ANA | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| TIGERSWAN | ALPHA STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| LWRC INTERNATIONAL, LLC | ALPHA STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| NATIVE VILLAGE OF EYAK | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION | HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION | undisclosed |
| RMS OF GEORGIA, LLC D/B/A CHOICE REFRIGERANTS | WILLIAMSON LAW + POLICY PLLC | undisclosed |
| BRISTOL BAY AREA HEALTH CORP | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| COUNCIL OF ATHABASCAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
| ALEUTIAN PRIBILOF ISLANDS ASSOCIATION | HOBBS, STRAUS, DEAN & WALKER, LLP | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
