Bill
HB 1946
Arkansas HB 1946 would require 6–12 public schools to teach comprehensive human growth and development, including fetal development visuals, starting 2025–26.
Status: Died in committee (Sine Die adjournment). Introduced: January 17, 2025. Primary sponsors: Rep. Bentley; Sen. C. Penzo.
Note on document sources: The materials provided include multiple unrelated items that share the number “HB 1946” (including an Illinois appropriation draft and a header referencing an appropriation for Jackson State University). This summary covers the Arkansas proposal found in the text provided — an education bill to require human growth and development instruction in public schools (Ark. Code additions/amendments). That Arkansas bill did not become law.
Purpose and intent
- To require public schools serving grades 6–12 in Arkansas to provide specific instruction on human growth and development, and to add that statutory requirement to the list of mandates for which superintendents must provide written assurance of compliance.
Key provisions
- Adds Arkansas Code § 6-16-1008 (new) establishing a required human growth and development curriculum for public schools serving grades 6–12, effective beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.
- Required content (non-exhaustive):
- A high-definition ultrasound video (minimum 3 minutes) showing early fetal development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs.
- A high-quality computer-generated rendering/animation that shows fertilization and every stage of human development in utero, noting weekly markers of cell growth and organ development through birth.
- Mandates that this instruction be included in any class that discusses or provides instruction on human biology, contraception, or sexually transmitted diseases/infections.
- Defines “public school” to include public school district schools and open-enrollment public charter schools.
- Amends Ark. Code § 6-15-202(f) to add § 6-16-1008 to the list of statutes for which superintendents may be required to submit written assurance of compliance (i.e., ties the requirement into accreditation/assurance processes).
Fiscal impact and implementation
- Fiscal Impact Statement (Arkansas Department of Education): No fiscal impact was reported.
- Implementation would have begun in the 2025–2026 school year had the bill become law.
Who would be affected
- Public schools serving grades 6–12 (district and open-enrollment charter schools), school districts and superintendents (compliance/assurance), teachers and curriculum planners (required instructional content), and students in classes covering human biology, contraception, or STDs/STIs.
Legislative progress
- Filed Jan 17, 2025; passed the House (read three times, transmitted to Senate); received in Senate and referred to Education Committee. Motions to extract failed; the measure died in the Senate committee at Sine Die adjournment and did not become law.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
