Utah Bill Seeks to Mandate Anti-Abortion 'Baby Olivia' Video in Schools

Legislation would require public schools to show fetal development video from anti-abortion group Live Action.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A bill advancing in the Utah Legislature would mandate that all public schools show a fetal development video created by the anti-abortion organization Live Action at least twice between 7th and 12th grade starting in 2027. The 'Baby Olivia' video depicts the process of fertilization and stages of fetal growth, but has been criticized by doctors and abortion rights supporters as an 'inaccurate and misleading representation' that counts fetal age from conception rather than the standard last menstrual period.

Why it matters

The bill, if passed, would make Utah the seventh state to enact a 'Baby Olivia act' requiring schools to show the anti-abortion group's video. Critics argue that curriculum decisions should be made by education experts, not prescribed by legislation to match a specific product, and that students deserve medically accurate information from unbiased sources.

The details

The legislation, sponsored by Republican Rep. Nicholeen Peck, would require all Utah public schools to show a video of at least three minutes depicting 'the process of fertilization and each stage of human development inside the uterus.' While the bill does not name a specific video, it describes the 'Baby Olivia' video produced by Live Action, a prominent anti-abortion organization. The video uses 'conceptual age' from fertilization rather than the standard medical measurement from the last menstrual period.

  • The Utah House voted 40-28 to pass the bill on March 2, 2026.
  • If the bill becomes law, the requirement would take effect starting in the 2027 school year.

The players

Nicholeen Peck

Tooele Republican state representative who sponsored the legislation.

Live Action

An anti-abortion organization that produced the 'Baby Olivia' video described in the bill.

Katharine Caldwell

A family physician who criticized the 'Baby Olivia' video as a 'sensationalized and inaccurate and misleading representation of fetal development.'

Molly Hart

Utah State Superintendent for Public Instruction, who said the state board has not taken a position on the bill and that the video does not meet their criteria for vetting curriculum.

Karianne Lisonbee

Clearfield Republican state representative who argued the legislation does not require a specific video and that parents can opt out of the human development program.

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What they’re saying

“This will be a new resource that (teachers) can use to help the students understand the development of a baby. They'll be able to see, starting at conception when the baby starts developing its heart movements, when the baby's arms start developing. It's a beautiful, tasteful video.”

— Nicholeen Peck, State Representative (Utah News Dispatch)

“I think that presenting the fetal heartbeat starting at just over three weeks of gestation is quite different from six weeks, and our children deserve medically accurate information and from an unbiased source.”

— Katharine Caldwell, Family Physician (Utah News Dispatch)

“Instead of the heart beating at about three and a half weeks, when it actually starts beating it's when the baby comes into existence; last menstrual period would say, 'well, the baby is six weeks old,' because it's adding two weeks where the baby didn't exist yet. The baby wasn't conceived yet.”

— Noah Brandt, Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs, Live Action (Utah News Dispatch)

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Utah State Senate for consideration. If passed, the requirement for schools to show the 'Baby Olivia' video would take effect starting in the 2027 school year.

The takeaway

This legislation highlights the ongoing debate over how fetal development and abortion should be taught in public schools. Critics argue the 'Baby Olivia' video presents a biased, anti-abortion perspective, while supporters say it provides valuable information. The outcome could set a precedent for other states considering similar mandates.