Thanks in part to NCSE's efforts, it was a bad year for those who would make it easier to miseducate kids about science, with one major exception: Florida. Signed into law in June 2017, Florida's House Bill 989 allows any county resident—not just any parent with a child in the country's public schools—to file a complaint about textbooks and other instructional materials. Climate change and evolution were clearly among the targets of HB 989.
Anti-science legislation fared poorly elsewhere in the U.S. None of the “academic freedom” bills aimed at empowering teachers to miseducate their students passed, although it was close in Oklahoma and South Dakota. In Arkansas, a bill that would allow creationism to be taught never got to the point of being drafted. A novelty in 2017 were “academic freedom” bills in the form of non-binding resolutions, which were passed in Alabama and Indiana.
The legislative lay of the land:
Alabama
House Joint Resolution 78
Aim: "Academic freedom"
Status: Passed House and Senate; did not require governor's signature
Links: Antiscience resolution adopted in Alabama
Arkansas
HB 2050
Aim: would allow creationism to be taught in public schools
Status: Died in House committee
Links: Arkansas creationism bill apparently dies
Florida
HB 989
Aim: Instructional materials challenge
Status: Passed the House and Senate; signed into law
SB 1210
Aim: Instructional materials challenge
Status: Abandoned in favor of HB 989
Links: Florida's antiscience bill becomes law
Idaho
Senate Concurrent Resolution 121
Aim: Delete climate change from state science standards
Status: Passed both houses; did not require governor's signature
Links: Climate change deletion finalized in Idaho
Indiana
Senate Resolution 17
Aim: "Academic freedom"
Status: Passed Senate; did not require House passage or governor's signature
Links: Indiana antiscience resolution passes the Senate
Iowa
HF 140
Aim: Would make state science standards optional or repeal them
Status: Died in House committee
HF 480
Aim: Would require "opposing points of view" to evolution and climate change be taught
Status: Died in House committee
Links: Two down in Iowa
Oklahoma
SB 393
Aim: "Academic freedom" bill
Status: Passed in Senate; died in the House
Links: Oklahoma's antiscience bill blocked
South Dakota
SB 55
Aim: Would have empowered science denial in the classroom
Status: Died in committee
Links: South Dakota's antiscience bill stopped
Texas
HB 1485
Aim: "Academic freedom" bill
Status: Died in House committee
Links: Antiscience legislation dies in Texas
Wisconsin
AB 299
Aim: Campus free speech bill; creationist sponsor claims it might protect creationist college students
Status: Passed Assembly, currently with Senate
SB 250
Aim: Campus free speech bill; creationist sponsor claims it might protect creationist college students
Status: Currently with Senate
Links: Would a Wisconsin bill protect science denial on campus?
CONTACT: Robert Luhn, NCSE, 510-601-7203, luhn@ncse.com, www.ncse.com
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) defends the integrity of science education against ideological interference. We work with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics including evolution and climate change are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently. Our work is made possible by our members and other generous donors.