Nation’s Most Sweeping Abortion Ban Enacted In Oklahoma
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed into law Thursday a prohibition on abortions beginning at fertilization. The measure, which went into immediate effect, also carries a private enforcement clause like the Texas law.
Oklahoman:
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt Signs Nation's Strictest Abortion Ban. It Starts Immediately
Oklahoma on Wednesday implemented the strictest anti-abortion law in the nation, giving the country a preview of a possible post-Roe future. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation to prohibit most abortions beginning at fertilization. Stitt signed House Bill 4327 that allows private citizens to sue anyone who "aids or abets" a woman seeking an abortion at any point in her pregnancy. The woman pursuing the procedure could not be sued. In a statement, Stitt said he was proud to sign the legislation. (Forman, 5/25)
The New York Times:
Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill That Bans Most Abortions
The new law, which takes effect immediately, is the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. The law makes exceptions in cases where an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest if they have been reported to law enforcement. (Vander Ploeg and Zernike, 5/25)
The 19th:
Oklahoma Becomes First State To Ban Almost All Abortion Access
The law, known as House Bill 4327, relies on civil lawsuits for enforcement, inspired by a six-week ban in Texas. Under the new law, anyone who “aids or abets” the provision of an abortion can be sued for up to $10,000. The ban targets abortions performed at any point in pregnancy after the egg has been fertilized. It has narrow exceptions if the abortion would save the pregnant person’s life, or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest that was reported to police. (Most rapes are not reported to law enforcement.) The ban takes effect right away under an emergency provision. (Luthra, 5/25)
Bloomberg:
Oklahoma Abortion Ban Faces Challenge At State High Court
Abortion-rights advocates vowed to ask the Oklahoma Supreme Court to block the state’s near-total abortion ban within minutes of Governor Kevin Stitt signing the measure into law. State lawmakers, led by Republicans, pushed through the law making Oklahoma the first state to ban abortions while the landmark US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade protecting a woman’s right to abortion still stands. The US Supreme Court appears set to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a copy of a draft opinion that was leaked to Politico. (Brubaker Calkins, 5/26)
In other abortion news —
Detroit Free Press:
Whitmer Issues Executive Directive On Abortion, Reproductive Health
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive Wednesday telling state agencies to not cooperate with any other state or authority attempting to prosecute anyone who obtains, provides or assists with obtaining an abortion or other forms of reproductive health care. The directive also calls on applicable agencies to increase protections for reproductive health care and take steps to raise awareness about availability of reproductive health care and forms of contraception. (Lobo, 5/25)
KHN:
Police Suspect Arson At Wyoming Site Of Clinic That Would Provide Abortions
Police suspect arson was behind a fire that damaged a clinic under construction in Casper that would become Wyoming’s sole site for procedural abortions. A caller phoned 911 shortly before dawn Wednesday to report seeing someone with a gas can running away from the building near downtown Casper. Smoke billowed from the building’s windows by the time authorities arrived, Casper police said. (Zionts, 5/25)
AP:
Poll: High Court Approval Drops After Abortion Opinion Leak
Public approval of the Supreme Court has fallen following the leak of a draft opinion that would overturn the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing abortion rights nationwide, according to a poll. Disapproval of the nation’s highest court was especially pronounced among the roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults who oppose overturning Roe, while support for the court was high among those in favor, according to the Marquette Law School Poll, which also found increased partisan polarization in approval. (Sherman, 5/25)
Roll Call:
State Ballot Initiatives On Health Focus On Abortion, Drugs
It’s still early, but so far at least eight of the estimated 90 state initiatives that voters will decide on this year are health-related, including four amendments, the most ever in one year, related to abortion access. “Many states are still in the signature-gathering phase for initiatives, but by late August or early September we will have a much clearer idea of the total number of measures and whether that is in line with previous years or not,” said Amanda Zoch, project manager for elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures. By comparison, the overall number of initiatives related to health in both 2020 and 2018 was about two dozen. (Raman, 5/25)
Cincinnati Enquirer:
Vasectomy Searches And Consultations Rise After Supreme Couft Leak
The prospect of a potential Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade has skyrocketed online vasectomy searches and surged inquiries at two Ohio urology centers so far this month. On May 3, Politico published a majority opinion leaked from the court signaling that it would overturn the landmark 1973 decision granting federal protection for abortions in favor of sending the authority to each individual state. Within 24 hours of that leak, which was later confirmed to be authentic by Chief Justice John Roberts, online searches for vasectomies soared throughout the United States, including Ohio and Kentucky. (Sutherland, 5/26)
