Today, the Arkansas House Education Committee voted to advance HB1180, the “Baby Olivia Act.” This bill would mandate anti-choice propaganda to be taught in Arkansas classrooms, disguised as science.
The bill requires public schools show a medically inaccurate, AI-generated video produced by Live Action, an extremist anti-abortion group, to students as young as fifth grade. Aside from the political ideology, the video lacks instruction on contraception, reproductive health, or the science of pregnancy itself.
A Committee Discussion Filled with Misinformation
Today’s hearing made one thing painfully clear: many committee members had no grasp of the actual science behind fetal development.
- Rep. Bentley, the bill’s sponsor, openly admitted the video was created by an anti-choice nonprofit and then falsely claimed that “every word and image” in the video had the backing of embryonic experts.
- When pressed on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists‘ (ACOG) opposition to the video, Bentley dismissed the organization outright, stating, “I don’t agree with ACOG.”
- Rep. Meeks asked if fifth grade was too young for this content, to which Bentley responded that it was the “perfect time” because “girls are about to start their menstrual cycle.”
- Context: Arkansas does not mandate sex education, so students are expected to watch a video about fetal development without being taught how pregnancy actually occurs.
- Rep. Cozart shrugged off the video’s inaccuracies, claiming, “You can find anyone to say it’s accurate or inaccurate.”
- Context: That’s not how science works. Medical professionals overwhelmingly agree that the video is misleading and medically inaccurate, yet lawmakers treated this as just another opinion.
Despite clear evidence that the video misrepresents scientific facts, the bill passed the committee after only one Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Denise Garner, directly challenged its accuracy.
What’s Next?
HB1180 now moves to the Arkansas House floor for a vote later this week. This is the last chance to stop this bill before it moves to the Senate.
Take Action Now
📞 Call or email your House Representative today and tell them to vote NO on HB1180.
Arkansas classrooms should teach science — not political propaganda. Let’s hold our lawmakers accountable and demand fact-based education for our kids.
