Advocates and physicians attend express opposition to "abortion trafficking" bill, Feb. 21, 2024

Advocates and physicians attend express opposition to "abortion trafficking" bill, Feb. 21, 2024 

At a Wednesday House Health Committee meeting, representatives voted to pass a bill that would charge adults with a felony for helping minors who are not their children obtain an abortion. 

Supporters of the bill call the act “abortion trafficking.” Much of Wednesday’s debate centered on the bill’s language, which would bring charges against an adult who “recruits, harbors, or transports” a minor in addition to “concealing” or “procuring” an act that would constitute a criminal abortion. Additionally, the legislation would ban obtaining abortion pills for an emancipated minor. The only exemption is for medical providers to provide emergency care for minor patients regardless of parental consent — something that was added in an amendment. 

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