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Minutes for SB275 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Requiring school districts to include a fetal development presentation as part of the curriculum for any course that addresses human growth, human development or human sexuality.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 13, 2025
Vice Chair Adam Thomas opened the meeting and hearing on SB275.
Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, The Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bills.(Attachment 1)
A fiscal note is available.
Proponent Testimony:
David A. Prentice, Ph.D., Scientist and Policy Advisor, provided an instructional presentation of human development in school district courses that address human development or human sexuality.The dearth of understanding about prenatal human development needs to be addressed even at the earliest student ages with scientifically-accurate, age-appropriate education. Teaching biologically-accurate human embryology is essential to scientific literacy as it provides a clear picture of how our bodies have developed, from the very earliest and simplest stages of life to the amazing complexity displayed even at just a few weeks into development.
Embryology illustrates how both genetics and our environment can affect us, even in the womb. Yet even with the incredible variation within the human race, the shared experience of our common embryological development state by stage, i perhaps second only to our DNA sequence in our common human heritage. The exquisite human developmental pathway needs to be a part of every student's knowledge, lest we impoverish them with ignorance of a critical part of their own lives and beginnings. (Attachment 2)
Jeanne Gawdun, Director of government Relations with Kansans for Life, stated that this bill will give students, teachers, and parents the most up-to-date scientifically accurate information about fetal development in an engaging and effective video format that is readily available. One example is an excellent ultrasound video that was created by Endowment for Human Development. The scientific accuracy of this organization's numerous ultrasound videos can be verified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.(Attachment 3)
SB275 Proponent Written Testimony:
SB275 Proponent Written Bundle (Attachment 4)
Neutral Written Testimony:
Dr. Brent Yeager, Superintendent, Olathe Public Schools (Attachment 5)
Opponent Testimony:
Taylor Morton, Kansas Lobbyist and Policy Analyst, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, said the bill mandates Kansas school districts include a fetal development presentation in their curriculum on human growth, development, and sexuality. The specific parameters of the presentation are not defined, but it is likely that schools would be required to show a video such as "Meet Baby Olivia" by the anti-abortion organization Live Action. The videos and others like it have been criticized for being scientifically inaccurate and biased, and they do not align with best practices in comprehensive sex education. Standards for sex education in Kansas needs to be improved to provide medically accurate and evidence-based information. (Attachment 6)
Chloe Chaffin, Fellowship Manager, Loud Light Civic Action, opposes this bill to prevent misinformation, stigma, and shame about abortion and reproductive healthcare a concerns have been raised about the scientific and factual integrity of the bill. A reputable source for materials on sexual health was Advocates for Youth. Local School boards have authority over curriculum but there is a lack of specificity in the bill. (Attachment 7)
SB275 Opponent Written Testimony:
SB275 Opponent Written Bundle (Attachment 8)
Discussion followed.
The Chair closed the hearing on SB275.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:27 pm.
The next meeting of the Senate Education Committee will be held March 17, 2025 at 1:30 pm in Room 144-S. Will work bills previously heard. SB2382, SB263, HB275.
