State
Briefs
Bioethics in Law & Culture Spring 2024 vol. 7 issue 2
A summary of state legislation - January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024
Joe Kral, M.A.
​
​
​
Alabama
IVF Embryonic Children:
February 16, 2024 – The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that IVF embryonic children are recognized under the state constitution as minor children and have resultant rights.
IVF Clinic Immunity:
March 6, 2024 – Governor Kay Ivet signed a bill that grants blanket immunity to IVF clinics regarding the deaths of IVF embryonic children.
Colorado
Assisted Suicide:
March 8, 2024 – The Colorado Senate passed a bill that would remove two safe-guards from its existing assisted suicide law. The safeguards removed are eliminating the residency requirement, allowing non-physicians to prescribe the lethal dose, and reducing the waiting time. The bill proceeds to the House for consideration.
Florida
Wrongful Death of Unborn Child:
February 21, 2024 – a Florida House Committee passed a bill that would allow parents to sue for the wrongful death of their unborn child. The bill now proceeds to the House Floor for consideration.
Idaho
Abortion Ban:
February 5, 2024 – A federal district judge dismissed the lawsuit (with prejudice) challenging the state’s pro-life Abortion Ban brought by the Satanic Temple.
Iowa
Unborn Child Development Video:
February 28, 2024 – The Iowa House passed HF 2617. The bill would require seventh graders in high school health classes to watch a video on the development of the unborn child.
Unborn Victims of Violence:
March 7, 2024 – The Iowa House passed HF 2575 which would recognize an unborn child as a person under the criminal code. The bill proceeds to the Senate for consideration.
Kansas
Abortion Statistical Reporting:
March 6, 2024 – The Kansas House passed legislation that would require abortion clinics to collect and report information on why women sought an abortion. The bill proceeds to the Senate for consideration.
Kentucky
Unborn Child Support:
March 8, 2024 – The Kentucky Senate passed SB 110 which would allow a pregnant mother to collect child support from the biological father of the unborn child. The bill proceeds to the House for consideration.
Maine
Constitutional Right to Abortion:
February 1, 2024 – The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would enshrine abortion as a state constitutional right. The bill proceeds to the full Senate for consideration.
Missouri:
Public Funding of Abortion:
February 14, 2024 – The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the law that prohibited state public funds from going to abortion providers was unconstitutional.
February 28, 2024 – The Missouri House passed legislation that would deny abortion providers Medicaid funds.
Montana:
Constitutional Right to Abortion:
January 18, 2024 – Attorney General Austin Knudson blocked a proposed ballot amendment initiative that would make abortion a state constitutional right. He said the measure was “legally insufficient.”
March 18, 2024 – The Montana Supreme Court ruled that the pro-abort ballot petition to make abortion a state constitutional right could proceed.
Omnibus Pro-Life Laws:
February 29, 2024 – A state judge ruled that three pro-life laws were unconstitutional. The laws were a 20-Week Abortion Ban, a TeleMed Abortion Ban, and a waiting period.
Nevada
Abortion Funding:
March 20, 2024 – A state court judge ruled that with the new state Equal Rights Amendment, the law that prohibits the funding of abortion through Medicaid funds is unconstitutional.
Constitutional Right to Abortion:
January 23, 2024 – A Nevada judge has ruled that the proposed language for a constitutional amendment enshrining abortion as a state right is okay.
New Hampshire
15-Day Abortion Ban:
February 1, 2024 – The New Hampshire House rejected a bill that would ban abortion after 15-days gestation.
Abortionist Regulation Bill
February 1, 2024 – The New Hampshire House rejected a bill that would require two abortionists to be present when an abortion takes place at 15-weeks of pregnancy or beyond.
Constitutional Right to Abortion:
February 1, 2024 – The New Hampshire House rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution recognizing abortion as a state constitutional right.
February 16, 2024 – The New Hampshire Senate rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution recognizing abortion as a state constitutional right.
​
Ohio
Sanctuary City for the Unborn:
February 15, 2024 – The City of Mason passed a Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. It would make it a crime to perform an abortion in the city or help someone obtain an abortion. It would also prohibit the distribution of abortion pills.
South Carolina
Abortion Funding:
March 8, 2024 – The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the State of South Carolina cannot infringe upon Medicaid recipients if they choose Planned Parenthood as their medical provider.
Fetal Heartbeat Act:
February 5, 2024 – Planned Parenthood filed suit challenging the state’s Fetal Heartbeat Act in state court arguing the heartbeat language is vague.
South Dakota
Abortion Ban Education Bill:
February 20, 2024 – The South Dakota House passed the Medical Education Bill, HB 1224, which would inform both doctors and women about the state’s Abortion Ban. The bill requires that an information video and other materials be made informing doctors and women on what constitutes a medical emergency, treatments possible with those conditions, etc. The bill proceeds to the Senate for consideration.
February 28, 2024 – The Senate State Affairs Committee passed HB 1224. The bill proceeds to the full Senate for consideration.
Medical Emergency Clarification Bill:
March 25, 2024 – Governor Kristi Noem has signed a bill that helps clarify what emergency medical procedures can be done that do not violate the Abortion Ban.
Tennessee
Abortion Trafficking Prohibition:
February 21, 2024 – A Tennessee House Committee has passed a bill that would prohibit the trafficking of minor girls across state lines for secret abortions. The bill proceeds to the full House for consideration.
Texas
Sanctuary City for the Unborn:
February 29, 2024 – The City of Midlothian passed a Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. The ordinance utilizes the private enforcement mechanism.
West Virginia
Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia:
February 16, 2024 – The West Virginia House of Delegates passed two resolutions (HCR 74 & HJR 28) which condemns both assisted suicide and euthanasia. The resolutions proceed to the Senate for consideration.
Unborn Child Development Video:
February 27, 2024 – The West Virginia Senate passed SB 468 which would require eighth graders to watch a video on the development of the unborn child. The bill proceeds to the House for consideration.
​
​