Fetal video bill hits speed bump in State Senate

LITTLE ROCK — A bill that would require Arkansas public schools to show students a human development video stalled in committee Monday.

Since Rep. Mary Bentley, RPerryville, introduced House Bill 1180 last week, the legislation has received pushback from critics who’ve questioned its age appropriateness, medical accuracy and limitation to a single 3-minute video developed by anti-abortion group Live Action.

HB 1180 proposes incorporating a human growth and development discussion into existing health and safety courses beginning in fifth grade. The discussion must include a high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet the Baby Olivia” video that depicts fertilization and stages of in-utero development of a computer-generated fetus.

Similar bills have passed in North Dakota and Tennessee, and are under consideration in other states like Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

While presenting HB 1180 to the Senate Education Committee Monday, Bentley addressed concerns raised in committee and on the House floor last week. Bentley argued the video is age appropriate because sex education can begin in fifth grade and that the bill doesn’t need specific language to allow parents to opt their children out of the lesson because that already exists in other state law. Sex education is not required in Arkansas, a state with a historically high teen pregnancy rate. When sex ed is taught, state law mandates that abstinence is emphasized.

Bentley also maintained the video accurately depicts human development from the moment of fertilization. Opponents of the bill, including healthcare professionals, have argued the video is confusing and medically inaccurate because OBGYNs measure fetal development based on a person’s last menstrual cycle, not from fertilization.

Republican committee members Sens. Dan Sullivan of Jonesboro and Breanne Davis of Russellville both raised concerns about the bill limiting the classroom discussion to this one specific video. The bill doesn’t preclude districts from adding more videos to the lesson, Bentley said.

“This video’s been approved by our surgeon general, an OBGYN-certified physician here,” she said. “I believe it’s a great video. Why would we want school boards to have to go through and find another fetal development film that covers all these issues that’s not been scientifically proven and backed by our surgeon general? I’m just making it easier for the school boards.”

Because HB 1180 specifically states what must be shown for the human development discussion, Davis argued that more legislation would have to be passed in order for school districts to add content to that discussion.

As a mother of four who’s had

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two miscarriages, Davis said she talked to her children about human growth and development from a young age and thinks it’s good to have that conversation in schools.

Teaching human growth and development is not the controversial part of this bill, but rather the way it’s depicted because it differs from how doctors discuss pregnancy, she said.

Davis also said she’s “frustrated and angry” that support or opposition to the HB 1180 is being framed as being “prolife or pro-choice,” which backs “people into a corner to support something that is not honest or true about the bill.”

“Me being against this bill and that it’s not right to say this is how we define human growth and development in public schools does not make me pro-choice or anti-life…I am pro-life and I think we should be discussing this in a different way in the classroom,” she said.

Two people spoke for the bill and six spoke against it.

Echoing concerns from the public and his colleagues, Sen. Joshua Bryant, a Rogers Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, said he was worried that the legislation does not contain language that would prohibit Live Action from changing the video’s content in the future.

“I may agree with it today, but I’m not going to be here in several years and what if Live Action becomes something that I don’t agree with tomorrow,” Bryant said. “…Live Action tomorrow may change their stance, and it may be to our detriment that we are mandating this to be taught at our schools and then not having the ability for our schools to have other options.”

The committee’s decision on the bill ended with some confusion over the voting process. Bryant offered a motion for a do pass with discussion. Bentley, who had already closed for her bill, indicated she would be willing to pull it for edits.

When Bryant withdrew his motion, Sen. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, made a do not pass motion. Flowers, Davis, Sen. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, and Sen.

Jane English, R-North Little Rock, voted in favor of the motion. Bryant, Sullivan and Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, voted against the motion. Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, was absent.

Though the motion gained a majority of the votes, Dotson questioned if the motion required a majority of the total committee to pass or the majority of those present.

After a brief recess, the Senate parliamentarian clarified that five votes are required to approve a motion in eightmember Senate committees.

Committee rules also dictate that if senators approve a do not pass motion, a bill is dead. Because the do not pass motion failed, Bentley may bring her bill back to the committee at a later date.

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ASP issues warning on

Safer Internet Day

In 2024, Arkansas State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated 169 instances of sextortion. That number has soared in recent years, and is up from only 16 cases investigated in 2020. Because Tuesday is Safer Internet Day 2025, ASP is taking the opportunity to emphasize the importance of online safety and provide tips for parents to help their children stay safe and thrive in the digital world.

“The task force receives around 6,000 tips a year. Each of the 169 sextortion cases the task force worked in 2024 revolved around boys. These perpetrators scout for the most popular children, preying on their social standing for extortion,” said Sgt. Corwin Battle, commander of the Arkansas ICAC Task Force. “They employ fear, threatening to unleash private conversations and intimate pictures to the entire school if their demands aren’t met promptly. Parents must engage in dialogues with their children from an early age, creating a safe space where kids feel comfortable sharing their concerns and fears, ensuring they don’t have to face such battles alone.”

With the rise of social media and virtual reality, there are many exciting opportunities to connect with others online.

These connections, however, come with risks and challenges. ASP urges parents to warn their children that everything they see online is not as it appears, including the identities of people they meet.

“The internet is right there in the palm of our children’s hands, and often parents don’t know where the internet has taken their child,” said Maj.

Stacie Rhoads, ASP Criminal Investigation Division commander. “It’s important for parents to know where their kids are, who they are talking to, and what they are curious about.”

Rhoads reminds parents to discuss the dangers of sharing or downloading content.

“Everything creates a digital footprint. Think twice before posting anything, and avoid sharing content you wouldn’t say in person,” she said. “Remember, anything posted online can be screenshotted and manipulated. The best way to keep your personal information safe is to avoid sharing it. Once something is posted online, it remains indefinitely and may fall into the wrong hands. We are reminding parents to be vigilant in identifying and stopping sexual predators who target children through online connections.”

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Parents should:

• Educate children about online safety and the importance of staying cautious.

• Monitor their children’s online activities and the apps they use.

• Encourage open conversations about internet use and potential risks. Key safety tips include:

• Set social media accounts to private and disable location sharing.

• Avoid meeting strangers from the internet without verifying their identity.

• Be cautious when sharing or downloading content online.

• Never provide personal information to unknown individuals or in response to unsolicited requests.

• Research apps before downloading, and be aware of their content and privacy settings.

If you encounter suspicious online activity or potential threats, report to local law enforcement or the Arkansas State Fusion Center at 501618-8001.

Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1800-843-5678).

Everyone can contribute to promoting responsible internet use. Open conversations are the best starting point and ongoing dialogue encourages comfortable discussions and helps prevent and respond to online issues.

Sharing these tips with friends and family can help raise awareness for Safer Internet Day.

Follow #SaferInternetDay and #SID2025 on social media to learn more about Safer Internet Day and how you can get involved at https://safer.connectsafely. org.