HB 1701: School Instruction in Human Growth and Development
Sponsor: Rep. Mazzie Christensen
SUPPORT
With Amendments
HB 1701 rewrites Missouri’s human sexuality instruction statute and adds a new requirement that every public and charter school teach “human growth and development” by third grade, focused on life in the womb. It mandates that sex-ed classes include a high-definition fetal-development ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” video from Live Action.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Mandated Fetal Development Videos: Requires any human growth and development discussion in sex-ed to include a high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” video (or its successor) showing fertilization and development up to birth.
- Early Human Growth Instruction: Mandates that every district and charter school provide instruction in human growth and development by grade 3, focusing on human biology related to pregnancy and life in the womb.
- Attorney General Enforcement: Gives the Attorney General standing to sue on behalf of Missouri citizens and creates a cause of action for damages or injunctive relief against anyone violating these requirements.
- Abortion Provider Ban: Reaffirms and strengthens the ban on abortion-service providers furnishing sex-ed materials or instruction in schools.
Watch the Mandated Video:
"Meet Baby Olivia" - mandated by HB 1701
Constitutional or Critical Context
The bill aims to advance a pro-life culture by showing students that life in the womb is human from fertilization onward. It preserves parental notice and opt-out rights while standardizing specific pro-life educational content across the state. While it supports a culture of life, it creates tension with local control principles by hard-coding specific vendor materials into state statutes.
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Broad Attorney General Powers
The bill grants the AG broad standing and cause of action against "any person or entity," without clarifying limits. This could be interpreted aggressively by a future hostile administration to burden schools or pro-life partners.
Vendor-Specific Mandates
Hard-coding one private vendor’s video ("Meet Baby Olivia") into state law removes local school-board discretion and gives a private group significant influence over public curriculum.
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
We recommend Supporting this bill as it strongly aligns with pro-life and pro-family values. However, amendments are suggested to clarify Attorney General enforcement powers (limiting them to public bodies) and address the vendor-specific video mandate to better protect local control and prevent future abuse.