ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff

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HB 2830: fetal and prenatal development; instruction

Sponsor: Representative Keshel, LD 17

Committee on Education

Overview

Instructs the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt science academic standards that require instruction on fetal and prenatal human development instruction. Details what instruction on fetal and prenatal development must include.

History

Statute requires SBE to prescribe competency and minimum course of study requirements that must be taught in common schools and that students must complete to graduate from high school. A school district governing board (governing board) must prescribe: 1) curricula that include the SBE-adopted academic standards; and 2) criteria for the promotion of students from common schools and for the graduation of students from high school. A governing board may prescribe course of study and competency requirements that are in addition to or higher than those prescribed by SBE (A.R.S. §§ 15-701 and 15-701.01).

SBE rules require common school students to demonstrate competency in science and health/physical education. To graduate from high school, students must successfully complete three science credits (A.A.C. R7-2-301 and R7-2-302).

Provisions

1. Requires SBE to:

a. determine the grade levels in which instruction on fetal and prenatal development is appropriate;

b. adopt science academic standards that require instruction on fetal and prenatal human development that is:

i. consistent with the prescribed requirements;

ii. age-appropriate, factual and focused on only prenatal human development as a biological process; and

c. include instruction on fetal and prenatal human development in the science competency requirements for common schools or high school graduation, or both.

2. Instructs SBE to require that instruction on fetal and prenatal human development include an overview of:

a. prenatal human development that explains the biological process by which a human develops from a single cell, through successive stages, before birth;

b. fertilization and early cellular development;

c. the stages of prenatal development;

d. major developmental milestones;

e. supporting biological structures necessary for development; and

f. general principles of healthy prenatal development.

3. Details what must be included in the required overviews of:

a. fertilization and early cellular development;

b. the stages of prenatal development;

c. major developmental milestones; and

d. supporting biological structures that are necessary for development.

4. Directs SBE to require that the instruction on fetal and prenatal human development:

a. be descriptive and age appropriate; and

b. not include instruction on sexual activity, sexual behavior, contraception, abortion procedures or reproductive decision-making.

5. Asserts the instruction on fetal and prenatal human development may not be classified as sex education for the purposes of parental consent or opt-out requirements.

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9. Initials CH/JD                 HB 2830

10. 2/6/2026    Page 0 Education

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