Ohio Senate Passes 20-Week Abortion Ban

COLUMBUS, OH —The Ohio Senate just passed a bill, SB 127, which would give politicians ever greater control of intensely private and personal decisions, according to Lisa Wurm, policy manager for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. This extreme legislation is yet another attempt to limit a woman’s access to health care in Ohio.

“Every woman’s circumstances are different,” said Wurm. “Even if we disagree on abortion, we should agree that these decisions are best made by the woman, in consultation with her doctor and her family.”

SB 127 seeks to limit the timeframe for a women to seek an abortion in the state to only 20-weeks into pregnancy. This is one of seven bills introduced in this legislative session to restrict reproductive freedom in Ohio.

Specifically, the legislation does not provide exceptions for rape, incest, or mental health concerns. It also introduces vague and unclear language that would cause unnecessary confusion and intimidation of Ohio physicians and their patients. Under SB 127, a doctor could face a fourth-degree felony charge and a mandatory license suspension.

”It’s extremely callous for legislators to impose one rule on every woman, regardless of circumstances,” she said. “This bill makes life even harder for a woman in already difficult circumstances. She should be able to make her own decisions about abortion, adoption, and pregnancy with those she trusts. Not with politicians.”