Florida
SB 1854 (pdf link)Sponsor: Sen. Stephen Wise (R)
Opponents: Howard Simon of the ACLU
States that instructors will "faithfully teach ... [a] thorough presentation and critical analysis of the scientific theory of evolution."
Kentucky
HB 169 (doc link)Sponsor: Rep. Tim Moore (R)
Teachers "may use, as permitted by the local school board, other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner."
Louisiana
Louisiana Science Education Act (LSEA)(wired) (arstechnica)
Sponsors: Gov. Bobby Jindal, The Discovery Institute, The Louisiana Family Forum
Opponents: AAAS CEO Alan Leshner, Prof. Arthur Landy, Louisiana Science Coalition, Prof. Barbara Forrest, NCSE Policy Director Joshua Rosenau, "A subcommittee of the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education"
Allows local school boards to approve supplemental classroom materials specifically for the critique of scientific theories. “promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories.”
Missouri
HB 195 (pdf link)Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Koenig (R)
Calls for protection of teachers that "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of the theory of biological and hypotheses of chemical evolution."
Amendment 2 (pdf link)
Sponsors: Rep. Mike McGhee (R), Missouri Catholic Conference, Missouri Baptist Convention
Opponents: The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri and "several non-Christian groups"
The so-called "right to pray" amendment to Missouri's state constitution includes the provision that "no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs." The amendment was proposed in a referendum and passed by an overwhelming majority of the electorate in August, 2012. The amendment is unnecessary, given the robust protections that religious expression already enjoys in the USA, but it was mainly designed to get the academic portion into law. As evidence of its cynicism, it also strips prisoners of their state constitutional protections for religious expression.
New Mexico
HB 302 (pdf link)Sponsor: Rep. Thomas A. Anderson (R)
Would prevent schools from punishing teachers for "informing students about relevant scientific information regarding either the scientific strengths or scientific weaknesses pertaining to [a controversial scientific topic.]"
Oklahoma
SB 554 (doc link)HB 1551 (doc link)
Sponsors: Sen. Josh Brecheen (R), Rep. Sally Kern (R)
Opponents: Gov. Brad Henry
Schools “shall not prohibit any teacher from informing students about relevant scientific information regarding either the scientific strengths or scientific weaknesses of controversial topics in sciences"
Tennessee
HB 368 / SB 893 (pdf link)Sponsors: State Rep. Bill Dunn (R), Family Action Council of Tennessee
Adds protections for teachers who wish to help "students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught."
Texas
HB 2454 (pdf link)Sponsor: Bill Zedler (R)
Specifies intelligent design as a supposed "alternate theory" to evolution.
Summary of Sponsors:
- FL Sen. Stephen Wise (R)
- KY Rep. Tim Moore (R)
- LA Gov. Bobby Jindal
- MO Rep. Andrew Koenig (R)
- MO Rep. Mike McGhee (R)
- NM Rep. Thomas A. Anderson (R)
- OK Sen. Josh Brecheen (R)
- OK Rep. Sally Kern (R)
- TX Bill Zedler (R)
- TN State Rep. Bill Dunn (R)
- The Discovery Institute
- The Louisiana Family Forum
- Family Action Council of Tennessee
