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Teachers, administrators oppose bill that would require images of second‑trimester D&E abortions in classrooms
Summary
HB 753 would require human‑sexuality instruction to include images of dilation‑and‑evacuation abortions at 20–25 weeks. The state Board of Public Education, school administrators and educators urged the committee to reject the measure as an overreach into curriculum and age‑appropriateness.
Rep. Lucas Schubert told the committee HB 753 would ensure students see visual material showing what a dilation‑and‑evacuation abortion at 20–25 weeks looks like as part of human‑sexuality instruction. He argued the change would increase 'honesty' and help students understand the medical procedure.
Opponents included the School Administrators of Montana, the Board of Public Education, the Montana Federation of Public Employees (teachers), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, Legal Voice and multiple other education and health stakeholders. Board director McCall Flynn testified that the Board is charged by the Montana Constitution with general supervision over curriculum and that the statute’s content standards do not align with mandating a specific image or grade placement. School administrators cited local control and constitutional concerns; teachers and pediatric and professional organizations said the bill lacks age‑appropriate context and would instrumentalize a troubling image for political aims.
Opponents also said the statute’s broad language would create confusion about which grades would receive the image and that parental‑notification and review mechanisms already exist. Sponsor said parents could opt their children out and defended the bill as objective information, but opponents countered that the measure would insert a single viewpoint and risk traumatizing some students.
The committee heard extended, often emotional testimony from both sides about whether the legislature should prescribe curriculum details or leave decisions to school boards and the Board of Public Education.
