Indiana governor signs bill protecting most preborn children in the state
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed legislation Friday night that would protect most preborn children in the state from abortion, making the state the first to enact such a law following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. However, as previously reported by Live Action News, some of the wording in the new legislation defines abortion in such a way that some pro-lifers are concerned it could actually expand abortion in the state.
Holcomb’s signature followed the passage of Senate Bill 1 in the House on Friday afternoon. Members of the Senate approved the bill last week. While SEA 1 provides protections for the preborn by eliminating nearly all abortions, it does include some stipulations, including allowing abortion for rape and incest up to 10 weeks, in cases to protect the health of the mother (though there are ways to preserve the lives of both mother and child), and in cases where the preborn child is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. The bill also stipulates that abortions must take place in hospitals or surgical centers, impacting the existence of abortion facilities in the state.
This tweet is no longer available. It may have been deleted or made private. Try on X.
“Following the overturning of Roe, I stated clearly that I would be willing to support legislation that made progress in protecting life. In my view, SEA 1 accomplishes this goal following its passage in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly with a solid majority of support,” Holcomb said in a statement. “These actions followed long days of hearings filled with sobering and personal testimony from citizens and elected representatives on this emotional and complex topic. Ultimately, those voices shaped and informed the final contents of the legislation and its carefully negotiated exceptions to address some of the unthinkable circumstances a woman or unborn child might face.”
While the bill does radically increase protections for the preborn in Indiana, which previously allowed abortions up to 22 weeks, some pro-life groups believe the bill doesn’t do enough. The Thomas More Society previously warned against redefining abortion to allow discriminatory abortions in cases of fetal anomaly, because there is now a fear that doctors will more stridently pressure families to abort these children rather than offer potentially lifesaving treatments.
The debate also divided some Republicans, who felt that exceptions within the bill to allow certain abortions never should have been included at all. “This bill justifies the wicked, those murdering babies, and punishes the righteous, the preborn human being,” said Representative John Jacob, a Republican who voted against the bill. “Republicans campaigned that they are pro-life. Pro-life means for life. That is not just some lives. That means all lives.”
Indiana Right to Life, which had pushed for limited exceptions to the abortion law, released a statement noting that while they wished the new law would protect all preborn children, they are grateful that it will stop most abortions in the state. They estimate that “the new law is expected to end over 95% of abortions in Indiana and will close all Indiana abortion clinics.”
The new law is slated to take effect September 15.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Dear Reader,
Every day in America, more than 2,800 preborn babies lose their lives to abortion.
That number should break our hearts and move us to action.
Ending this tragedy requires daily commitment from people like you who refuse to stay silent.
Millions read Live Action News each month — imagine the impact if each of us took a stand for life 365 days a year.
Right now, we’re urgently seeking 500 new Life Defenders (monthly donors) to join us before the end of October. And thanks to a generous $250,000 matching grant, your first monthly gift will be 3X MATCHED to help save lives and build a culture that protects the preborn.
Will you become one of the 500 today? Click here now to become a Live Action Life Defender and have your first gift TRIPLED.
Together, we can end abortion and create a future where every child is cherished and every mother is supported.
Newsbreak
