fetal and prenatal development; instruction, the official text

REFERENCE TITLE: fetal and prenatal development; instruction

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2830

Introduced by

Representative
Keshel

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-712.02; relating to school
curricula.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-712.02, to read:

START_STATUTE15-712.02. Instruction on fetal development; requirements; parental notice
and opt out

A. The state board of education
shall:

1. Determine the grade level or
levels in which instruction on fetal and prenatal development is appropriate.

2. Adopt academic standards in the
area of science that require instruction on fetal and prenatal human
development that is consistent with the requirements prescribed in this section
and that is age-appropriate, factual and focused on only prenatal human
development as a biological process.

3. Include instruction on fetal and
prenatal human development in the competency requirements prescribed pursuant
to section 15-701 or 15-701.01, or both, in the area of science.

4. Require that instruction provided
pursuant to this section include an overview of all of the following:

(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, including:

(i) The
formation of a zygote through the union of human reproductive cells.

(ii) Early cell
division and growth.

(iii) The
development of a blastocyst.

(iv) Implantation
of the blastocyst into the uterine wall.

(c) The stages
of prenatal development, including an overview of all of the following:

(i) the
germinal stage that describes early development from the time of fertilization
until the time of implantation.

(ii) The
embryonic stage that describes the early structural formation, including the
development of foundational tissues and early organ systems.

(iii) The fetal
stage that describes the growth and maturation of organs and body systems from
approximately the ninth week of development until birth.

(d) Major
developmental milestones, including:

(i) The
formation of the brain and spinal cord.

(ii) The
development of the heart and circulatory system.

(iii) The
formation of limbs, facial features and other identifiable human structures.

(iv) Ongoing
growth and maturation of organs during the fetal stage.

(e) Supporting
biological structures that are necessary for development, including:

(i) The
amniotic sac and amniotic fluid and their protective functions.

(ii) The
placenta and its role in providing nutrients and oxygen and removing waste.

(iii) The
umbilical cord and its function as a connection between the fetus and the
placenta.

(f) General
principles of healthy prenatal development, including only biological and
physiological factors that support normal growth and organ development.

5. Require that instruction provided
pursuant to this section meet both of the following:

(a) Be
descriptive and age appropriate.

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

B. Instruction required by this
section is not sex education and may not be classified as sex education for the
purposes of parental consent or opt-out REQUIREMENTS prescribed by this
title.