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House committee approves contentious bill requiring 3-minute fetal development video in health classes
Summary
HB 1180, which would add a three-minute video titled 'Baby Olivia' into health instruction (starting in fifth grade), passed the House Education Committee after debate and public testimony both supporting and opposing the measure; the committee adopted an amendment and removed a civil cause-of-action clause before passing the bill by voice vote.
The House Education Committee passed HB 1180, a measure that would make available — free of charge and unbranded — a three-minute animated video called “Baby Olivia” as a resource for human growth and development instruction beginning as early as fifth grade. The committee adopted an amendment that removed a civil cause of action previously in the bill and then approved the bill as amended by voice vote.
Representative Bentley, sponsor of HB 1180, introduced the measure and said the film is a medically reviewed, three‑minute animation that traces development from fertilization onward. Bentley told the committee the resource was reviewed by a panel of physicians and that the Endowment for Human Development and other scientific sources provided the development information. Bentley said Live Action — the organization that created the film — had granted a nonexclusive, unbranded, perpetual license for educational use at no cost and that parents retain statutory opt-out rights.
Public testimony in committee was sharply divided. Tian Estell, who identified herself as opposing the bill, told the committee that the video “was created and promoted by an extremist group” and called it “medically inaccurate” and “propaganda.” Representative Garner and other members raised similar concerns and cited the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as having found inaccuracies in the resource; Representative Garner said ACOG had labeled the film medically inaccurate.
By contrast, citizen witnesses who supported the bill described the video as factual and educational. Jimmy Cavin told the committee, “This is biology,” and said the film taught him facts he had not known about fetal development. Crystal Maynard, a pastor who said she has a child in public school, said she supported the measure and trusted the sponsor.
Representative Bentley acknowledged the controversy in committee but said the resource presents “unvarnished authentic truth” about human development and that it is not, in her words, sex-education material but rather a human development resource. She also said the bill includes sharing an ultrasound image and that parents may opt their children out under existing law.
The committee adopted the sponsor’s amendment to remove a civil cause of action from the bill and then approved HB 1180 as amended by voice vote. The bill will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.
