NASHVILLE — Tennessee is set to become the latest state to mandate that public school students view a video on fetal development created by an anti-abortion group, or something similar, under a bill that is on its way to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.
The Republican-dominated Senate approved the bill on Thursday, with the five Democrats present and one Republican voting against.
The Senate rejected several Democratic proposals: to allow parents to opt out of showing the video to their children; to let school districts decide whether to show it; to include a disclaimer stating that it’s scientifically inaccurate political propaganda; and to allow schools to teach comprehensive sex education.
“This cute, shiny, pink video is offensively childish and it simplifies the intricacies of reproductive health,” said Democratic Sen. Heidi Campbell. “It’s disrespectful to women and the medical profession.”
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Janice Bowling, argued that the video is factual.
“It does demonstrate conception and it’s an AI-style film, but it’s medically accurate,” Bowling said. “And it shows the moment when the sperm joins with the egg, and that is the beginning of life.”
The bill reflects similar proposals that have emerged this year in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia, all supported by Live Action, an anti-abortion organization. North Dakota was the first state to adopt the concept last year.
Live Action has been encouraging states to use their three-minute animation in classrooms, which they claim helps depict a fetus developing in the womb. The fetus in the video is referred to as Baby Olivia.
The video illustrates an egg being fertilized and implanted, then progressing through embryonic and fetal developments that occur during a pregnancy. A voiceover also introduces viewers to Olivia as an example of a fully developed baby in utero appears on screen. Olivia’s mouth and eyes open and close, and her hands move.
“Although she has not yet entered the outside world, she has already completed an incredible journey,” the narrator says.
However, the video has faced criticism from some educators and physicians, who argue that it is misleading and problematic for a young audience. Additionally, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a professional organization with over 60,000 members, has stated that the video is anti-abortion misinformation “intended to manipulate the emotions of viewers.”
Live Action claims that the video was created in consultation with doctors.
Under the Tennessee legislation, public schools would have the choice to present a different video, but the bill includes strict criteria that it must be at least three minutes long and include “a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound” that shows “the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development.” It is unclear how many other organizations offer something similar.
The bill specifies that the video must be shown as part of a school’s family life curriculum.
Democrats stated that mandating the video contradicts Republicans’ assertion that they value parental choice in education.
“I’ve heard many members in this body talk about school choice, parent choice as the lay of the land and how it should be,” said Democratic Sen. Charlane Oliver. “But it seems to be only convenient when it fits a certain political ideology.”
While Lee hasn’t publicly expressed his opinion on the bill, it’s likely to receive the Republican’s approval. The governor has never vetoed a bill since taking office in 2019 and he has repeatedly emphasized his opposition to abortion. Under his administration, Lee enacted a far-reaching abortion ban that went into effect shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and approved sending more tax dollars to anti-abortion organizations often known as crisis pregnancy centers.
The Baby Olivia legislation has not made as much progress in other states as in Tennessee. West Virginia’s Senate approved the measure in February, which specifically affected eighth and twelfth graders, but the Legislature adjourned before it could clear the House of Delegates.
In Iowa, lawmakers are discussing whether to remove specific references to the Baby Olivia video and instead mandate any video showing the “humanity of the unborn child.” Meanwhile, the bill has not progressed in Kentucky and Missouri.
