Ohio House passes 'Baby Olivia' prenatal development education bill

Lawmakers in the Ohio House passed legislation Wednesday that would incorporate prenatal development education into public school curricula across the state.

Key Takeaways:

• Legislators in the Ohio House passed the Baby Olivia Act, a bill that would require students in grades 5-12 to receive education about prenatal development, including viewing a prenatal education video, such as Live Action's "Baby Olivia," as well as a "high-definition ultrasound video" showing the development of specific organs.

• Baby Olivia is a computer-generated video showing the development of the child in the womb, highlighting many major milestones.

• Baby Olivia was created using scientifically accurate information from the Endowment for Human Development, and was created in collaboration with a team of medical doctors.

The Details:

House Bill 485, the "Baby Olivia Act," passed the full House with a vote of 58-26, just one day after clearing the House Education Committee.

The bill states that public school students in grades five through 12 shall be shown:

(1) A high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development; 

(2) The meet baby Olivia video developed by live action, or its successor entity, or a substantially similar video showing the process of fertilization and each stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every stage of pregnancy until birth.

Though the bill was originally intended for those in grade three and up, an amendment in committee adjusted the level to grade five. “This is an age where students will be able to not only comprehend what they are watching but be able to question the authenticity and scientific accuracy of this video," said Rep. Mike Odioso, presumably referring to "Meet Baby Olivia" as opposed to any other similar video.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Melanie Miller, who emphasized the importance of teaching students about human prenatal development.

"This legislation centers around the importance of making sure that Ohio's public school students have a more complete, science-based understanding of human development in the early stages," Miller said during a September press conference. "What we teach in our health classes makes a big difference in the lives and futures of our students, and we should do everything that we can do to provide the most accurate, engaging information available to ensure that they are prepared when they are faced with a life-changing decision."

Parents are able to opt their students out of the education if they choose.

The Baby Olivia Act next heads to the state Senate. If it passes, Ohio will join six other states in passing legislation requiring students to learn about prenatal human development.

The Backstory:

A Never Before Seen Look At Human Life In The Womb | Baby Olivia

Live Action's "Meet Baby Olivia" video is a computer-generated 3D animation showing the development of the child in the womb, highlighting milestones such as the development of arms and legs, brain activity, hiccups, sucking her thumb, playing in the womb, and more.

Much of the information in the Baby Olivia video comes from the Endowment for Human Development (EHD), a “nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health science education and public health” which pledges to remain. National Geographic has, for years, distributed EHD's prenatal development DVD.

Baby Olivia was also created in collaboration with a panel of medical doctors, including experts in embryonic and fetal development — Dr. David Bolender; Dr. Donna Harrison; Dr. Tara Sander Lee; Dr. Katrina Furth; Dr. Michelle Cretella; and Dr. Jeffrey Barrows, DO, MA — who each endorsed the project.

Go Deeper:

Everywhere similar bills have been considered, the abortion industry has been vocal in fighting them. Public schools already largely utilize sex education provided and approved by the abortion industry, and "Baby Olivia" bills do not remove any sex ed curricula currently in place.

In testifying against "Baby Olivia" bills, Abortion Forward Deputy Director Jaime Miracle referred to Baby Olivia as "misinformation" and "propaganda." Live Action News has thoroughly debunked these claims. Read some of those fact checks here:

• Live Action’s ‘Baby Olivia’ fetal development video is medically accurate despite media claims

• Attack on ‘Baby Olivia’ promotes lies about abortion, prenatal development, and sex ed

• Fact Check: Critics claim Baby Olivia isn’t based on ‘medical fact’ and is ‘brainwashing’ children

• Hit piece against ‘Baby Olivia’ warns viewers not to be ‘seduced by the facts’