The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday gave preliminary approval to legislation that would eliminate a state requirement that sixth grade girls be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Virginia is the only state to mandate the vaccine, meant to prevent cervical cancer, and opponents of the mandate say the decision of whether or not a girl should be vaccinated against HPV should be left to their parents, according to Del. Kathy Byron, R-Lynchburg, the bill’s sponsor.

Others, including Del. Chris Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, an obstetrician/gynecologist, opposed the legislation.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S., and at least 50 percent of sexually active people will have genital HPV at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The House also advanced a bill recommending that 65 percent of public school spending go toward instructional spending.

Both measures will be up for final votes Friday.