Facts About The Fumble In The Senate Committee….The Baby Olivia Act

After passing the House, HB110 “The Baby Olivia Act” was presented yesterday in the Senate Education Committee by its two main sponsors Representative Mary Bentley and Senator Clint Penzo.

The Bill would require a human growth and development discussion in schools as it relates to a baby in the womb.

It would require schools to include “A high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three (3) minutes in duration, which shows the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development; and  (B) The “Meet Baby Olivia” video developed by Live Action, which depicts the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus and notes significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every significant marker of pregnancy until birth.”

Read entire Bill here –

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1180.pdf

It was widely expected to easily cruise through the committee with full Republican support but ended up going down a derailment path when Republican Senator Breanna Davis went on what sounded like an angry rant against the Bill.

Here is the link to the video of the Committee meeting and the presentation of the Bill begins at 11:02:45 mark.

https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00284/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20250210/-1/30643

The 11:32:45 mark is when Davis made her remarks which then seemed to give Senator Dan Sullivan, along with Bill Co-Sponsors Senators Joshua Bryant and Jim Dotson, pause.

At the 11:54:30 mark, Chair Jane English asked for the will of the Committee which was met with stunning silence.

Finally, Bryant somewhat sheepishly made a motion to “Do Pass”….Several seconds went by before Dotson mumbled a second to the motion and the discussion began.

Bentley and Penzo, getting unexpected push back during that discussion, offered to pull the Bill and come back with amendments.

Democratic Senator Stephanie Flowers, smelling blood, demanded a vote on the motion which promoted Bryant to rescind his motion.

Seeing her Republican counterparts struggling in a weakened state, she pounced like a tiger at the 12:01:15 mark, making a motion to “Do Not Pass” which was seconded by Democratic Senator Reginald Murdock….That forced a vote on the motion.

English became confused with what a yes or no vote on the motion meant….That confusion did not go away.

Flowers and Murdock voted yes, followed by Davis with a loud yes. Sullivan, Dotson and Bryant then voted no….so it was down to English who voted no and then quickly changed it to yes meaning the Bay Olivia Act was Dead….That put the room in such silence you could have heard a pin drop with Flowers looking at Murdock with a grin.

The Liberal opposition to the Bill, which had filled the committee room, left out into the Capitol halls feeling like the Eagles who had won the Super bowl the day before.

One thing that was clear to everyone I talked to is that English’s confusion was like a Joe Biden moment.

At the 12:08:15 mark, Dotson began to push back that it takes a minimum of 5 votes to pass a motion in their eight-member committee and not a majority of merely a quorum….Committee member Bryan King was not present during meeting.

At the 12:22:15 mark, the Senate Parliamentarian was brought in, and it was determined that the motion to “Do Not Pass” actually failed meaning the Baby Olivia Act is still alive and will be brought back to the committee.

The Bill started out in the Committee with the winds at its sails until Davis brought the air to a standstill. From there, it proceeded to turn into an absolute embarrassing blunder by the Republicans in the Committee, very nearly dashing the hopes of conservatives across the State who were anticipating the passage of the Bill….and it may still.

Davis tried to crawfish by stating “I didn’t think we were permanently killing it.” when she voted yes to the “Do Not Pass” motion.

One thing for sure is Conservatives in her District are watching and her only chance at redemption is to vote for the Baby Olivia Act when it comes back to the committee.

#FactsNotFiction

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Jimmie Cavin

Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction