My husband wants to adopt my 13 yrs daughter who's father has not had any contact with her since she was 3, I have never received child support from him. Do I have to get is consent for the adoption?

Maybe. Maybe not.

What state are you in?

Yes you have to get the father's permission for an adoption or at lease show a good faith effort to have obtained it. Lack of contact or support may be used to go over his objections. That will be up to a court.

My husband and I live in Mississippi, the absent parent is a sex offender would that have any considerations

It might. Your best bet is to get an attorney to prepare the adoption petition. The attorney can detail what you need to do to deal with the bio father.

In the normal route, you ask for his permission ( he will have to be notified anyway) if he does not agree, then you ask the court to take it away for **** reasons.

Normally merely not having contact or not paying support are not valid reasons, If his sex offenses, are such that his own child would be considered at risk, that may be enough.

If he is a sex offender because he hired a hooker, or he had sex with a 16 year old girl, most likely not, since his child would have no risk.