Image: Bill Sponsor Sen. Janice Bowling presents SB2767 to the Senate Education Committee on March 20, 2024 Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The Tennessee Senate is scheduled to hear a bill that would require school children in at least 78 counties across the state to view a 3-minute fetal development video.
Senate Bill 2767 (SB2767), sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), would require school systems to include a 3-minute ultrasound video portraying fetal development in all family life courses. If implemented, this mandate would begin with the 2024-2025 school year.
Note: SB2767/HB2435 is a caption bill. The actual language of the bill can be found in the amendment HERE.
The legislation “Enacts the Baby Olivia Act. Requires a family life curriculum that directly or indirectly addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality to include the presentation of a computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early fetal development, such as “Meet Baby Olivia.”
During a committee meeting, Bowling said, “A family life curriculum that directly or indirectly addresses human growth, human development, human sexuality would be incomplete if it didn’t actually show the very beginning of that life, which is at conception.”
The text of the bill specifically mentions a video produced by Live Action entitled “Meet Baby Olivia” as an acceptable option.
Critics have argued that this particular video is “unscientific and emotionally manipulative” and that it is not a neutral option, instead saying it is a way “to advance the idea that fetuses are people and that abortion care is wrong.”
Those in favor say the video has been reviewed by physicians. Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61), sponsor of the companion House Bill 2435 (HB2435), says it is “a completely accurate demonstration of embryonic development.”
Similar legislation has been passed or is being considered in the following states: Missouri, North Dakota, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Iowa. All of these pieces of legislation specifically reference Live Action’s Baby Olivia Video, whereas Tennessee is not planning to require this specific video to be used.
HB2435 passed in the House on March 18 with a vote of 67-23 with only Democrats voting against. The Senate will consider the legislation on April 4.
