Iowa Senate passes pregnancy education bill
The Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require public school students in grades four through twelve to watch videos and animations related to fetal development.
would require that the "age-appropriate and research-based instruction in human growth and development" would include an ultrasound video showing early fetal development of vital organs and an animation of prenatal human development starting at fertilization. The original version of the bill applied to students in grades one through twelve.
But the Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the bill changing the age requirement from students enrolled in grades one through twelve to students enrolled in grades four through twelve.
During debate, Democrats expressed concerns over political bias in the classroom.
"This body definitely should not be politicizing health class with a curriculum that is not based in research and lacks requirements to be free of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or gender biases," Rep. Molly Donahue (D-Cedar Rapids) said.
Republicans countered those arguments and said the content shown in classrooms would be based on facts.
"I just don't see any downside to presenting the humanity of life from conception on," Rep. Kevin Alons (R-Salix) said. "It increases our respect for life, and it's showing respect to everybody."
A of the bill made it through the House in the 2024 session but failed to make it to the Senate in time for a vote. That piece of legislation specifically referenced the "Baby Olivia" video created by the anti-abortion group Live Action.
The bill passed by Senate lawmakers Tuesday makes no mention of a specific video. The of the bill also doesn't make mention of "Baby Olivia." That bill would apply to students in grades seven through twelve.
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