HB1180, also known as the Baby Olivia Act, is a dangerous and misleading bill that seeks to force anti-abortion propaganda into Arkansas classrooms under the guise of sex education. It mandates that students — starting as early as fifth grade — view Meet Baby Olivia, a medically and scientifically inaccurate video produced by the extremist political organization Live Action.
The ACLU of Arkansas strongly opposes HB1180 because:
- It pushes an ideological agenda, not education. Live Action has a long history of spreading misinformation to promote anti-abortion policies. HB1180 attempts to codify its propaganda into Arkansas’s curriculum with no scientific or educational justification.
- It undermines students’ access to medically accurate sex education. Decades of research show that comprehensive, fact-based sex education helps prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections, and foster healthy relationships. This bill does the opposite, replacing evidence-based education with misinformation.
- It ignores Arkansas’ real public health crises. Arkansas ranks among the highest in the nation for teen pregnancy, maternal mortality, and infant mortality. HB1180 does nothing to address these serious issues — instead, it prioritizes shame-based misinformation over real solutions.
Arkansans deserve policies rooted in facts, not ideology. Young people should have access to accurate, science-based education that empowers them to make informed decisions about their health and futures — not politically motivated misinformation. The ACLU of Arkansas stands against HB1180 and any effort to substitute propaganda for education.
