Arkansas Enacts Near-Total Abortion Prohibition
The sponsor of the bill -- which allows an abortion only to save the life of a mother or fetus with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest -- describes the ban as a "trigger" case to challenge Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court.
Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
Governor Signs Abortion Ban
Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Senate Bill 6 on Tuesday, enacting a near-total ban on abortions in Arkansas and prompting immediate promises of a legal challenge by abortion-rights groups seeking to block the law from taking effect. The legislation signed by the governor creates one of the harshest restrictions on abortion in the nation, allowing the procedure only in instances when the life or health of the mother is in danger. (Moritz, 3/10)
NPR:
Arkansas Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban As Lawmakers Push For Supreme Court Case
Under Senate Bill 6, abortion would only be allowed in cases where it's necessary to save the life or preserve the health of the fetus or mother. The law does not allow any exceptions in situations of rape or incest--a line that anti-abortion rights activists and lawmakers have supported in the past. The measure's supporters expect the law to be challenged by abortion rights activists. It's future is uncertain, as similar attempts to restrict access to abortion services in Ohio, Georgia, and Alabama in the last two years have failed after federal courts struck down local laws. But that's no matter, according to Hutchinson. He said Tuesday the goal of the legislation is to bring the fight over abortion to the Supreme Court. (Diaz, 3/10)
CBS News:
Arkansas Governor Signs Near Total Abortion Ban Into Law
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday signed into law legislation banning nearly all abortions in the state, a sweeping measure that supporters hope will force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its landmark Roe v. Wade decision but opponents vow to block before it takes effect later this year. The Republican governor had expressed reservations about the bill, which only allows the procedure to save the life of the mother and does not provide exceptions for those impregnated by rape or incest. Arkansas is one of at least 14 states where legislators have proposed near outright abortion bans this year. Hutchinson said he was signing the bill because of its "overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions." (3/9)
In abortion news from Texas —
Texas Tribune:
Texans Who Get Abortions Could Face Death Penalty If Proposed Bill Passed
A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill that would abolish and criminalize abortions, leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face criminal charges that could carry the death penalty. The legislation, filed Tuesday by state Rep. Bryan Slaton, does not include exceptions for rape or incest. It does exempt ectopic pregnancies that seriously threaten the life of the woman “when a reasonable alternative to save the lives of both the mother and the unborn child is unavailable.” (Najmabadi, 3/9)
Fortune:
Texas’s Power Outage Sparked A Reproductive Health Care Crisis
When the electric grid went down in Texas last week, it temporarily closed at least 17 out of 21 abortion clinics in the state, sparking a reproductive health crisis that will take weeks to recover from. ... In total, thousands of people across Texas had to delay their appointments for a range of services, including STI treatment, birth control, hormone therapy, and abortion. (Solis, 2/26)
In abortion news from Oklahoma, Ohio and Hawaii —
KTUL:
Anti-Abortion Bills Pass Oklahoma House, Could Make Abortions Illegal Statewide
Two bills aimed at making abortions illegal in Oklahoma are now moving to the state Senate. Both were heavily contested in the House. If one of the bills passes, abortions would be effectively illegal in the state. House Bill 1102 would allow the state to revoke the medical license of physicians performing abortions. House Bill 2441 would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. (Ellis, 3/10)
AP:
Ohio Sued Over Law Requiring Burial Of Aborted Fetal Remains
Abortion providers in Ohio sued Tuesday to block a state law requiring that fetal remains from surgical abortions be cremated or buried, arguing a lack of rules makes complying “impossible.” Clinics and their lawyers at ACLU of Ohio filed suit against the Ohio Department of Health and others in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. They asked the court to block the law as an unconstitutional hurdle to women’s legal right to an abortion. (Smyth, 3/10)
AP:
Hawaii Lawmakers Advance Bill To Allow Abortions By Nurses
Hawaii lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow nurses to perform abortions. The decision on Thursday by the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee will advance the legislation to the full state House for consideration. The measure would allow advanced practice registered nurses to end a pregnancy by medication or aspiration, a medical procedure that uses suction to conduct an abortion. Nurses must have prescriptive authority, specialize in the medical practice and have a valid license, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. (3/7)
