ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: ED DP 8-4-0-0 | Third Read 31-21-8-0-0

Senate: HHS DPA 4-3-0-0 | Third Read 16-10-4-0-0

Final Read: 31-24-5-0-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2830: fetal and prenatal development; instruction

Sponsor: Representative Keshel, LD 17

Vetoed by the Governor

Overview

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

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 in order 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 human 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.   Mandates SBE 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.   Specifies SBE must require 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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Initials CH                 HB 2830

6/25/2026        Page 0 Vetoed by the Governor

 

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