Legislative advocacy work can take years to mature and come to fruition but protecting life through law is the formula for long lasting change. It is the foundation to the daily work of sidewalk advocates, education forums, prayer rallies; the other side of the equation to safeguarding the right to life and Greater Toledo Right to Life (GTRTL) has been actively pursuing life matters locally and in Columbus. Here is a legislative update. Please put these bills on your prayer list and consider calling your state representative and senator to let them know you want to see them support LIFE with their vote.
Here are just a few of the bills GTRTL and our statewide partner, the Right to Life Action Coalition (RTLACO), are trying to pass into law.
Senate Bill 157 - Born Alive Infant Protection Act, it seeks to protect infants from neglect if they survive an attempted abortion. It requires that an abortionist inform the Ohio Department of Health if a baby survives an abortion and says that doctors must perform a life-saving treatment if a baby is born alive after a botched abortion. The Bill passed the Senate in late October. It has been introduced in the House and the first hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 11/18. (sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson and Sen. Stephen Huffman)
House Bill 421 - Woman’s Right to Know, requires abortion providers to give information during the informed consent period before an abortion relative to the possibility of breast cancer related to abortion, the possibility of experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with abortion, and to requires abortion facility employees to be trained in the most recent medically accurate information relative to these consequences of abortion. (sponsored by Rep Jennifer Gross)
House Bill 480 – The 2363 Act, is about protecting our fundamental, constitutional right to be born. It authorizes a private right of action against a person for performing or inducing abortion or engaging in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of abortion. It declares the personhood of the preborn from fertilization. The bill patterns its enforcement mechanisms after the Texas Heartbeat Law. When introduced in early October, it had 33 co-sponsors (a very high number). Regrettably, House leadership is not as enthusiastic in their support. Unfortunately, Ohio Right to Life refused to offer its support. (sponsored by Jenna Powell and Thomas Hall)
Ambulatory Surgical Facilities Reform Bill, updates Ohio’s laws to treat independent (non-hospital associated) ambulatory surgical facilities like other professional practices, with ownership transparency and requiring a medical professional to be responsible for the business. The Bill is still being drafted with all the significant stakeholders brought in on the process. Our goal is to introduce a bill before the December recess.
Senate Bill 151 - Emery and Elliot's Law, establishes training standards and conditions for the medical care and treatment provided by hospitals and physicians to certain pregnant women and preterm infants and infants born with a disability. This bill is in the Senate Helath Committee after two hearings and testimony given by RTLACO partners. (Sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson)
House Bill 123 - The Trigger Bill, enacts several abortion-related provisions that apply only upon the occurrence of either of the following that wholly or partially upholds a state's authority to prohibit abortion: 1) issuance of a US Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe, 2) adoption of an amendment to the US Constitution protecting the unborn. (Sponsored by Kristina Roegner)
Humanity of the Unborn Education - yet to be introduced, would direct teaching of fetal development from conception through birth to students in Ohio's high school health curriculum. (to be sponsored by Senator Niraj Antani)
HCR 26 - Sustain Life Resolution, expresses the legislature's support of the right of patients and families to direct their own healthcare decisions. Furthermore, it will express the state's support of food and water as basic care rather than as a medical intervention which can be withdrawn from a patient as a provider. It has been referred to the House Family, Aging and Human Services Committee. RTLACE is helping to provide sponsors and expert testimony. (Sponsored Re Tom Brinkman)
Regulate Public Funding of Abortion, prohibits public facilities or private institutions of higher education from receiving state money if they perform or induce nontherapeutic abortions of employ or affiliate with a physician who does so. No amended into SB 157. (sponsor Rep Jena Powell)
HB 378 Abortion Pill Reversal, the bill would require the abortionist or clinic staff to provide pretreatment notice about the possibility of reversing a mifepristone (the abortion pill) abortion. (sponsor Fowler-Arthur)
Five Wishes - watching. RTLACO is against it.
Please actively engage in praying for these bills to successfully move through the process to the point of enactment where they can save and change lives! Also, praise God and thank your legislators for two successes in the past year despite the many limitations Covid19 presented. First, the Humane Disposition of Fetal Remains bill passed both the House and Senate and was signed by Governor DeWine. It recently was challenged and will be going through the courts. Secondly, the Telemed Abortion Ban passed and has been enacted which prohibits prescribing the abortion pill over the phone, requiring an in-person doctor visit for any woman seeking this type of abortion.
Here are just a few of the bills GTRTL and our statewide partner, the Right to Life Action Coalition (RTLACO), are trying to pass into law.
Senate Bill 157 - Born Alive Infant Protection Act, it seeks to protect infants from neglect if they survive an attempted abortion. It requires that an abortionist inform the Ohio Department of Health if a baby survives an abortion and says that doctors must perform a life-saving treatment if a baby is born alive after a botched abortion. The Bill passed the Senate in late October. It has been introduced in the House and the first hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 11/18. (sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson and Sen. Stephen Huffman)
House Bill 421 - Woman’s Right to Know, requires abortion providers to give information during the informed consent period before an abortion relative to the possibility of breast cancer related to abortion, the possibility of experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with abortion, and to requires abortion facility employees to be trained in the most recent medically accurate information relative to these consequences of abortion. (sponsored by Rep Jennifer Gross)
House Bill 480 – The 2363 Act, is about protecting our fundamental, constitutional right to be born. It authorizes a private right of action against a person for performing or inducing abortion or engaging in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of abortion. It declares the personhood of the preborn from fertilization. The bill patterns its enforcement mechanisms after the Texas Heartbeat Law. When introduced in early October, it had 33 co-sponsors (a very high number). Regrettably, House leadership is not as enthusiastic in their support. Unfortunately, Ohio Right to Life refused to offer its support. (sponsored by Jenna Powell and Thomas Hall)
Ambulatory Surgical Facilities Reform Bill, updates Ohio’s laws to treat independent (non-hospital associated) ambulatory surgical facilities like other professional practices, with ownership transparency and requiring a medical professional to be responsible for the business. The Bill is still being drafted with all the significant stakeholders brought in on the process. Our goal is to introduce a bill before the December recess.
Senate Bill 151 - Emery and Elliot's Law, establishes training standards and conditions for the medical care and treatment provided by hospitals and physicians to certain pregnant women and preterm infants and infants born with a disability. This bill is in the Senate Helath Committee after two hearings and testimony given by RTLACO partners. (Sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson)
House Bill 123 - The Trigger Bill, enacts several abortion-related provisions that apply only upon the occurrence of either of the following that wholly or partially upholds a state's authority to prohibit abortion: 1) issuance of a US Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe, 2) adoption of an amendment to the US Constitution protecting the unborn. (Sponsored by Kristina Roegner)
Humanity of the Unborn Education - yet to be introduced, would direct teaching of fetal development from conception through birth to students in Ohio's high school health curriculum. (to be sponsored by Senator Niraj Antani)
HCR 26 - Sustain Life Resolution, expresses the legislature's support of the right of patients and families to direct their own healthcare decisions. Furthermore, it will express the state's support of food and water as basic care rather than as a medical intervention which can be withdrawn from a patient as a provider. It has been referred to the House Family, Aging and Human Services Committee. RTLACE is helping to provide sponsors and expert testimony. (Sponsored Re Tom Brinkman)
Regulate Public Funding of Abortion, prohibits public facilities or private institutions of higher education from receiving state money if they perform or induce nontherapeutic abortions of employ or affiliate with a physician who does so. No amended into SB 157. (sponsor Rep Jena Powell)
HB 378 Abortion Pill Reversal, the bill would require the abortionist or clinic staff to provide pretreatment notice about the possibility of reversing a mifepristone (the abortion pill) abortion. (sponsor Fowler-Arthur)
Five Wishes - watching. RTLACO is against it.
Please actively engage in praying for these bills to successfully move through the process to the point of enactment where they can save and change lives! Also, praise God and thank your legislators for two successes in the past year despite the many limitations Covid19 presented. First, the Humane Disposition of Fetal Remains bill passed both the House and Senate and was signed by Governor DeWine. It recently was challenged and will be going through the courts. Secondly, the Telemed Abortion Ban passed and has been enacted which prohibits prescribing the abortion pill over the phone, requiring an in-person doctor visit for any woman seeking this type of abortion.
