Kansas lawmakers override governor's veto of two abortion-related bills

The Kansas legislature voted on April 9 to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of two bills designed to strengthen informed consent provisions for women considering abortion.

Key Takeaways:

• Lawmakers in the Kansas House and Senate voted to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of HB 2729 and HB 2727.

• HB 2729 requires women to receive informed consent information prior to abortion.

• HB 2727 allows women who do not receive such information to sue the abortionist.

The Details:

• House Bill 2729 requires that abortion-minded women receive informed consent information, including information about fetal development, abortion risks, abortion alternatives, and "abortion pill reversal" information prior to undergoing an abortion. The state's Department of Health and Environment will be required to oversee the creation of standardized consent forms for this purpose.

• House Bill 2727 allows women who do not receive informed consent information to then file a lawsuit against the abortionist without first going through the state’s standard medical malpractice screening panel. Women who take advantage of this law limit their legal recovery to $5,000 in claims.

Both bills received the necessary two-thirds majority votes to override Kelly's veto, with the House voting 87-36 and the Senate voting 31-8. 

Kansans for Life (KFL), which championed the measures as they made their way through the legislature, praised lawmakers for overturning Kelly's vetoes.

“These victories reflect Kansas’ continued commitment to protecting women, families, and preborn children,” said Jeanne Gawdun, KFL Director of Government Relations. “Even after Governor Kelly vetoed each of these measures, the Legislature stood firm to ensure that women facing life-altering decisions receive accurate information and real support.” 

Can the ABORTION PILL be REVERSED?

Zoom In:

In her veto of HB 2729, Kelly took issue with the bill's inclusion of "abortion pill reversal," parroting the oft-repeated pro-abortion argument that it is "false medical information."

“This bill requires the state to put false medical information out that has no scientific basis and only serves to mislead women,” Kelly said. “Kansans have made it clear that they want the government to stay out of women’s private health care decisions. This bill does the opposite.”

The abortion pill reversal process utilizes high doses of progesterone to counteract the abortion pill mifepristone, which deprives the baby of the nutrients it needs to survive. Progesterone is a natural hormone the female body produces when pregnant to help sustain the pregnancy and nourish the baby. It has long been used to help women with a history of miscarriage to sustain their pregnancies. To date, abortion pill reversal has been credited with saving thousands of lives.

Meet The Doctors Saving Babies Via Abortion Pill Reversal Treatment

The Bottom Line:

Opposition to informed consent laws quickly reveal that abortion advocates don't seem to want women to have a "choice" at all. When women know their options and that help is available, they are more likely to choose life — and that's bad for business for the abortion industry.