About the Bill
HB1180 | Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Clint Penzo | House Education Committee
This bill would require public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools to teach, beginning in 6th grade, human growth and development as it relates to pregnancy and fetal development inside the womb, to include a three-minute-minimum, high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” animated video, developed by Live Action or similar video.
AACF Testimony on February 26, 2025, Senate Education Committee
Nicole Carey, Education Policy Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Good morning, Madame Chair and members of the committee. My name is Nicole Carey. I am the Education Policy Director with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
For almost 50 years now Arkansas Advocates has worked to ensure that children and their families have opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and realize their full potential. However, Arkansas has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the country, making it difficult for many young women and girls in our state to thrive. The younger a girl gets pregnant, the more likely that she will be set on a pathway to poverty. I think it is important to note that between 2019-2021, 331 girls who were 15 years old or younger, gave birth in Arkansas.
For that reason, I am here today to speak against House Bill 1180. As you know, this bill would require Arkansas schools to show a fetal ultrasound video and a second video depicting human development that the Department of Education will approve through the rule making process. It names a specific vendor’s video in the bill – a worrisome precedent in and of itself – Live Action’s “Meet Baby Olivia” to be allowed on the Department’s list as a part of the health and safety curriculum starting no later than 6th grade. Even with the amendment, the bill explicitly requires the “Meet Baby Olivia” video to be shown if sex education is taught by a school-based health clinic. I want to take a moment to point out that explicitly naming a vendor in state law is concerning and is something the State has historically not done in order to avoid appearances of impropriety.
Regarding the video, please know that Arkansas Advocates supports teaching scientifically-based human development in our schools. But medical professionals have already testified previously in this committee that the Baby Olivia video is scientifically inaccurate. Further, without also requiring instruction on the fundamentals of reproductive health and discussing what happens after a baby arrives, the Baby Olivia video runs the risk of causing unintended consequences for our young people.
The reason being, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has described the Baby Olivia video as designed to “manipulate the emotions of viewers.” This emotional video is dangerous for some of our children. As you may know, children in Arkansas are more likely to have had adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, than children in most other states. ACEs is a term used to describe abuse, neglect, and other traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18. Studies have demonstrated that those with more childhood ACEs are at increased risk for engaging in risky behaviors.
It is children with a high number of ACES who particularly concern us. Impressionable children who may face difficult circumstances at home and could be influenced by watching this video each year without other context. Without context that discusses healthy relationships and the real impact- both emotionally and financially- of having a child while still very young, we are concerned about the children that see videos like this and seek out love and attention by having a baby of their own. And please know, this is not an anecdotal thought- there is evidence and reports of young mothers expressing these very thoughts due to a lack of education on the impact of young motherhood.
Again, we agree that medically-accurate fetal development should be taught in schools, but it cannot be taught in a vacuum. Currently, Arkansas law does not require students to learn — at age-appropriate points — about puberty, reproduction, or contraception; yet, over 30 years of public health research demonstrates that comprehensive sexual health education can help young people delay sexual initiation, reduce risk for unintended pregnancy, and encourage healthy relationships. I strongly urge this committee to reject the passage House Bill 1180 and instead work together to find a solution, bridging the knowledge gaps for young Arkansans through developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and medically accurate health education. In doing so, we can reduce the teen birth rate in Arkansas, and, in turn, positively impact other health, well-being, and economic outcomes for our state. Thank you.