Supporters argue that the measure is a matter of protecting human dignity. Opponents say it’ll further erode women’s access to abortion.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle said: “This bill isn’t about making sure women have options, it’s about limiting which options exist,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle in a written release. “It’s about shaming women who choose to have an abortion and the medical professionals who provide abortion care, and it’s about putting abortion out of reach for individuals across our state.”
The bill now goes to the Ohio House for consideration where it is expected to eventually pass.
It is the latest victory for anti-abortion activists who have had enormous success over the past decade in adding requirements and hurdles to the procedure.
Earlier this month, the Senate voted 19-13 in favor of a bill to ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks gestation before a woman may know she is pregnant. It contains an exception for cases in which the life of the mother is at risk but no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Related: Heartbeat abortion ban bill clears Ohio Senate
In 2017, there were 20,893 induced abortions in Ohio, a 1-percent increase over 2016, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Health.
In other action
Senators also voted 31-0 in favor of a bill that would generally let military members and their spouses to obtain temporary occupational licenses when they move to Ohio on active duty if they held a valid license elsewhere. The bill is co-sponsored by state Sens. Peggy Lehner of Kettering and Bob Hackett of London.
A similar bill cleared the Ohio House late last year.
The Senate also approved a bill that would add $100 million in state money for school construction and renovation across the state, with priority going to lowest-wealth districts.
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