Ohio bill would penalize abortions

A pair of Ohio lawmakers recently introduced new legislation that aims to criminalize those who receive an abortion. Proponents of the bill say the legislation would grant preborn persons the same legal protections as citizens under state law from the moment of fertilization. House Bill 370, or the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, if approved, states that it would fulfill Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which states that "[n]o state shall deny…to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Having an abortion could result in criminal charges, and exceptions to the law are only for "life-saving procedures" on pregnant women and spontaneous miscarriages. House Bill 370 was proposed by state Rep. Levi Dean, R-Xenia, and co-sponsor state Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy. Opponents of the bill claim that it will prevent people from making decisions regarding their health and goes against what voters voted for in 2023. Kellie Copeland, executive director for Abortion Forward, a nonprofit that advocates for pro-choice legislation and overall protection of reproductive health rights, said that the bill is extreme and will ultimately cause more harm than good. "Voters in Ohio sent a clear message in 2023: we must be free to make our own decisions, define our own path in life, and safely care for our families and communities," Copeland said. "Bills like this embolden law enforcement to surveil and investigate people for their actions during pregnancy — families and loved ones could be targeted by law enforcement for supporting someone who is pregnant." Copeland was referring to Issue 1 from the November 2023 election, in which 57% of Ohio voters voted "Yes" to codify reproductive rights in the state's constitution. House Bill 370 was introduced to the House on June 18. It is unclear when another hearing will be scheduled for this bill.