I am told the Michigan Health Policy Committee will vote tomorrow morning on legislation that would allow abortion up until birth. Right now partial-birth abortion is not legal in Michigan.
Republican State Rep. Josh Schriver wrote on X earlier Tuesday the legislation would allow abortion up until birth.
House Bill 4949 would repeal the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, which defines and prohibits partial-birth abortion procedures, makes a violation a felony, and provides grounds for civil action.
Lawmakers will also be considering eliminating a 24-hour waiting period and allowing state funds to be used for Medicaid abortions. Vote in committee expected in the morning in Michigan
State Rep. Bob Bezotte said, "Whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, we should all be able to recognize the importance of properly regulating and inspecting surgical abortion centers,” Bezotte said. “Safeguards must be in place to ensure that every woman who seeks out these services knows the potential implications and visits a facility that is safe, clean, and conducive to healing.”
Click here to read the legislation.
Among other changes, HBs 4949-4959 would:
- Repeal the law requiring licensing and inspection for abortion clinics to ensure proper health and safety procedures are followed. In 2013, unsafe conditions in a Muskegon clinic demonstrated the importance of proper health and safety guidelines.
- Eliminate requirements for abortion providers to report the abortions they perform and any instances of a woman facing complications or death as the result of an abortion.
- End protections that ensure women have the opportunity to provide informed consent before getting an abortion, with at least 24 hours to review information in non-emergency situations.
- Repeal Michigan’s prohibition on partial-birth abortions, although federal law also prevents the gruesome late-term abortion procedure.
- Allow, and in some cases require, taxpayer funding to pay for medically unnecessary abortion
Michigan Democrats champion this legislation.
“Michiganders overwhelmingly supported enshrining the right to reproductive freedom in our state constitution, but our work is far from done,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), chair of the Progressive Women’s Caucus. “A right is not truly a right if it is not accessible to everyone in our state, and it is crucial we remain vigilant here in Michigan. The restrictive laws that remain on the books are founded on misogynistic ideologies that aim to control people’s bodies and our freedoms. It is not my nor any other lawmaker’s job to interfere with a person’s reproductive health decisions. Reproductive freedom is a right, and it is our job to further safeguard that right and ensure it is available to all Michiganders, which is why we must pass the RHA.”
Michigan Democrats say the number of abortion clinics has steadily declined over the last 40 years in Michigan, with even more reproductive health care facilities under continued threat of closure due to what they say are unnecessary restrictions.
“House Democrats not only campaigned on the promise of protecting reproductive choice, but on expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare. And we have kept our promise,” said state Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley). “For example, we provided record funding in this year’s budget for maternal-infant health, which has been historically underfunded. This investment is especially important for communities of color, which have a higher infant-mortality rate. It’s a start, and there is no question more needs to be done. I am excited to continue this work with my colleagues — investing in people, our health and our communities.”
According to Michigan Republicans, Polling conducted by Marketing Resource Group this year showed that 90% of Michigan voters support the licensing and inspection of abortion facilities for health and safety purposes. Further, 63% of Michigan voters support a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion to allow a woman to provide informed consent. The poll also found that 67% of Michigan voters support requiring parents to consent to their minor child having an abortion; Democrats decided not to attempt to repeal Michigan’s parental consent law for now, given how unpopular the move would be.
