The “Baby Olivia Act,” signed into law by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee last week, requires public schools to incorporate a “high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound” showcasing the development of unborn babies in the womb as part of their curriculum.
Life Site reports that Tennessee law requires the inclusion of family life curriculum in all counties where the teen birth rate exceeds 19.5 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, totaling 78 out of the state’s 95 counties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On March 18, 2024, the Tennessee State House adopted amendments #1 and #2 and passed House Bill 2435, which reads:
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, enact the Baby Olivia Act, which requires a family life curriculum that directly or indirectly addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality to include the presentation of a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development, such as “Meet Baby Olivia,” a high-quality, computer-generated animation developed by Live Action that shows the process of fertilization and the stages of human development inside the uterus.
AMENDMENT #2 deletes the requirement that the development of “sex organs” be included in the computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes.
The law specifically references the computer-animated “Baby Olivia” video created by Live Action, which depicts fertilization and fetal development from conception. This video, which has garnered nearly 7 million views on YouTube, serves as an example of the type of animation that would satisfy the requirements of the law.
Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action, announced the news on X, sharing the powerful Baby Olivia video. She wrote, “BREAKING: The Baby Olivia Act has been signed into law in Tennessee. This law ensures that over 1 million TN public school students will be taught scientifically accurate information about when life begins using world-class educational materials like Live Action’s Baby Olivia.”
She continued, “TN joins North Dakota in leading the way in human development education in schools. Watch what students across the nation will see below.”
BREAKING: The Baby Olivia Act has been signed into law in Tennessee.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 26, 2024
This law ensures that over 1 million TN public school students will be taught scientifically accurate information about when life begins using world-class educational materials like Live Action’s Baby Olivia.… pic.twitter.com/3nXRer4M0f
The video goes on to depict milestone events of early fetal development with vivid computer animation, including the emergence of a detectable heartbeat at 22 days from conception, and recordable brain activity at six weeks from fertilization.
“[Baby Olivia] can bring her hands together at 7 ½ weeks, and separate fingers and toes emerge. She can also begin to hiccup,” the video explains.
Live Action has verified that the video accurately depicts fetal development, citingthe review and certification of “leading OBGYNs and medical professionals” including Dr. David Bolender, who has a PhD in Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, and Michelle Cretella, MD, Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians. The information in the video was derived from the Endowment for Human Development, a bioethics nonprofit.
