Bill on requiring fetal development instruction in Iowa schools heads to governor
Fetal development videos and graphics would have to be shown in Iowa classrooms under legislation that is headed to the governor's desk. (Photo via Getty Images)
Iowa schools would have to show ultrasound videos and computer-generated graphics on fetal development in Iowa classrooms under legislation sent to the governor's desk Monday.
Senate File 175, approved 33-16, would require human growth and development classes for Iowa students in grades 5-12 include ultrasound video and computer-generated rendering or animations depicting 'the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization.'
This measure was modeled after laws in other states and similar bills brought up in previous sessions that referenced the 'Meet Baby Olivia' video created by anti-abortion group Live Action, though the 2025 legislation does not mention the video by name.
The bill was amended by the House April 17 to ban materials on fetal development from being shown in classrooms if the entity that created it performs or 'promotes' abortions, or if it contracts, affiliates, or makes referrals to organizations that perform or promote abortions.
Democrat in both chambers said this amendment would lead to inaccurate and biased material being shown in Iowa classrooms, as most of the medical organizations that work on issues related to pregnancy and fetal development perform or provide referrals for abortions when medically necessary. The measure only refers to 'abortion' at large, and does not exclude entities that only perform medically necessary abortions, such as in cases when the pregnancy puts the life of the mother at risk.
The Mayo Clinic, a Minnesota-based health care provider, was brought up as an organization that would be excluded from school material under the bill despite being a leading professional source on fetal development.
Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, also argued that material from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics would be excluded, as the UI hospital system performs abortions to save the life of the pregnant person. Wahls also said material developed by other UI entities like the proposed 'center for intellectual freedom' would also be excluded, as it is 'affiliated' with UIHC.
'I think it's very clear that by being an affiliate of an entity that performs abortions — and that is something that happens at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — research, human-based, age-appropriate curriculum that was being developed at the University of Iowa, is no longer going to be acceptable in Iowa classrooms,' Wahls said. 'That is just very peculiar.'
Sen. Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, said he preferred the Senate version and felt the House amendment was 'probably unnecessary given the parameters of the original bill' — arguing that entities performing abortions would already be excluded from creating school materials under the original legislation, as the material is required to depict 'the humanity of the unborn child.'
'Entities that perform or promote abortions are liable to be biased against the humanity and inherent value of human life before birth, which is one of the central components of this bill,' Taylor said. 'That is not to say that everything they produce is false, but in order to be unbiased, it doesn't make sense to use prenatal development information from abortion advocates.'
He said opponents were ignoring the language in the bill requiring the information shown in school classrooms be medically accurate and research-based. However, he said this material could show a 'biased' view if they perform abortions or support access to abortions, pointing to guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to use the term 'embryo' instead of 'baby' or 'unborn child' when discussing early stages of gestation.
'Embryo is an accurate scientific term to refer to a specific point in the human development process, but it is important to not leave out that this is a stage of human development,' Taylor said. 'Using material from abortion advocates may provide a tainted view of human life before birth, and that is unfair to young learning minds. Embryos, fetuses, babies, adolescents and adults are all human, and that fact should not be hidden — that every life, no matter how small, contains humanity and dignity from the very start.'
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