FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new bill filed in Frankfort would put several new restrictions on abortion, including chemical abortions and abortions for minors.
What You Need To Know
- House Bill 3 was filed this week, which includes a series of new abortion restrictions
- One restriction would put tougher limits on getting chemical abortion pills through the mail
- Another restriction would make it tougher for minors to get an abortion without parental consent
- The bill’s sponsor says lawmakers may pursue tighter restrictions on abortion, depending on what the U.S. Supreme Court does with Roe v. Wade
"As long as abortions are legal in the state of Kentucky; permissible in the state of Kentucky, we want to make sure that they are as safe as possible,” Rep. Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg) said.
Tate’s bill, House Bill 3, includes more restrictions for a minor seeking an abortion through a court order, as opposed to getting one with parental consent. Tate said she worries about victims of human trafficking going through the courts to get an abortion.
“One of the things that I want to make sure is that, obviously, if that happens, that it’s not done for any kind of coercion,” she said.
Restrictions on chemical abortion drugs sent through the mail are also part of the bill.
“One of the things that I know is that chemical abortions — approximately 60 percent of the abortions done in the state of Kentucky right now are done chemically — so we have no real legislation that prevents that, or — I don’t mean prevent, but absolutely controls that," Tate said.
House Bill 3 also includes a slew of new reporting requirements and government oversight of abortion providers, just one of many reasons why groups like Planned Parenthood and the ACLU oppose it.
“Kentucky residents deserve lawmakers who fight to protect and strengthen their health care system, not undermine it with junk science and medical misinformation,” said Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. “HB 3 is not only unconstitutional, but irresponsible and out of step with what Kentuckians want: access to medically accurate information and essential medical procedures like abortion.”
State lawmakers have passed several abortion restrictions the last few years, many of which are tied up in court. Tate said she’s watching what the new conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court does with recent abortion laws in Mississippi and Texas.
“If the Supreme Court supports the Mississippi law, then I’m sure you’re going to see where we’ll have exactly similar legislation,” Tate said. “And then, let’s say hypothetically, that Texas law, their heartbeat bill, is maintained or supported by the U.S. Supreme Court, then I would expect to see similar activity there as well.”
The Mississippi law prevents abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Texas law prohibits abortions at about six weeks.
“(If) the U.S. Supreme Court pushes (Roe v. Wade) down, maybe through the heartbeat bill from Texas; that each one of the states can make their own decisions, that’s going to be huge for Kentucky,” Tate said. “That’s going to be huge for this very pro-life General Assembly.”
Tate says the constitutional amendment on the ballot this year asking voters if they feel Kentucky’s constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion will also guide lawmakers heading into next year.
Kentucky is one of 12 states that has a so-called “trigger law” banning abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.