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Committee approves bill requiring prenatal development images in K‑12 human growth curriculum after amendment
Summary
Senate Study Bill 1028, sponsored by Senator Taylor, would require human growth and development instruction in grades 1–12 to include prenatal development images, including high‑definition ultrasound or computer‑generated renderings; the committee adopted an amendment allowing real images in lieu of animations and advanced the bill on a roll‑call
Senate Study Bill 1028, which would require human growth and development instruction in grades 1–12 to include material showing prenatal development, was advanced by the Iowa Senate Education Committee after an amendment and a roll‑call vote.
Sponsor Senator Taylor described the bill as requiring instruction that includes "human development inside the womb, a high definition ultrasound video showing the presence of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early fetal development, and a high quality computer generated rendering or animation that depicts the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development starting at fertilization." An amendment adopted in committee allows high‑definition ultrasound or other real images to be used in place of computer‑generated renderings or animations.
The bill also removes from current code an explicit list of professional organizations (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of School Nurses) that were cited in prior law as examples of leading professional organizations. Senator Taylor said the change was intended to avoid a dated, non‑exhaustive list while retaining the requirement that instruction remain "research‑based and age‑appropriate." Taylor noted parents retain existing opt‑out rights for human growth and development instruction.
Committee debate was robust. Senator Trone Garriott and others said they supported the amendment permitting ultrasound or real images but questioned allowing computer‑generated or animated images. Senator Tuohum Garrett and Senator Campbell described educational value in generated illustrations, while Senator Kornbach expressed concern that the bill could permit explicit material for very young students if the statute mandates the same content for grades 1 through 12.
Sponsor Taylor responded that current law already requires materials to be age‑appropriate and research‑based and that the bill would not change that standard. Taylor also said certain early stages of development may be better depicted by high‑quality animations when live imaging is not feasible.
A roll‑call vote was requested. The committee recorded 11 yeas and 5 nays and advanced the bill to the calendar under Rule 40.
No final statutory text was shown in the transcript; supporters and opponents urged further floor debate.
