The Indiana Senate on July 30 approved a proposal that seeks to ban most abortions in the state, a measure that was criticized by pro-abortion and pro-life supporters.
The bill was passed in a 26–20 vote during a special session of the GOP-controlled Senate after almost four hours of debate. Senate Bill 1 makes abortion in the state a Level 5 felony unless it’s required to prevent any substantial permanent impairment of the mother or if the pregnancy was the result of incest or rape and the fetus has a specified postfertilization age.
The pregnant woman, an individual who offers medical treatment in good faith to a pregnant woman that results in an accidental abortion, and a physician who performs the medical procedure for abortion at the request of a pregnant woman are all exempted from the crime of feticide.
“This bill goes through the motions on paper, but lacks any teeth to actually reduce abortions in Indiana by holding those who perform abortions or would intentionally skirt the law accountable with criminal consequences,” the group said.
The legislation bans abortion clinics from conducting surgical abortions. If a fetus is to be terminated because it’s incapable of life outside the womb, such abortions must be reported to the state health department.
The bill asks the maternal mortality review committee to study how changes in abortion laws will affect maternal mortality in the state.
Heated Abortion Debate
The debate over the Senate Bill 1 was heated, with Republican Senate President Suzanne Crouch threatening to clear the gallery on more than one occasion after outbursts from both sides. Outside the Senate, protestors were gathered and chanting against the bill.Republican state Sen. Susan Glick, the sponsor of SB1, called the legislation a “vehicle bill.” Glick, who had earlier said that she wasn’t happy with the bill, expressed hope that the legislation will undergo changes in the GOP-led House, where the measure now heads for consideration.
Indiana is the second state, after West Virginia, to convene a special session to consider abortion restrictions following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.