April 9, 2024
Despite being a heartland, “red” state stronghold, Kansas isn’t blessed with the same pro-life protections that other Republican pro-life states are.
Last year, SFLA-inspired legislation was introduced known as the Abortion Prevention Act SB286 to end abortion and prevent chemical abortions in Kansas, matching Civil enforcement laws like the one that Texas passed with its SB 8 Heartbeat Act.
This legislation is the direct result of the hard work of SFLAction intern Cheyenne Vandeventer, who helped introduce it, calling individual legislators until she found a means to introduce it herself by committee.
This year, Cheyenne lobbied to have a companion bill, HB 2492 introduced in the House.
However, when given the opportunity to vote to pass SB 286 and end abortion in Kansas, rank-and-file Republicans in the State senate sided with Democrats, betraying pro-life voters and voting the legislation down.
Here’s what you need to know about the SFLAction-inspired SB286 / HB 2492 which Students for Life Action (SFLAction) strongly supports.
What’s at Stake:
Currently in Kansas, abortion is legal through 22 weeks – over 5 months into a pregnancy – making it among the most permissive states in America for abortion. And it allows abortion far more liberally than even some European nations.
In March 2023 the Kansas Supreme Court heard oral arguments on how the Republicans in the State Legislature could go to restrict abortion. This case is ongoing, however, the state’s high court has asserted a right to abortion in the Kansas constitution. Civil enforcement is necessary to bypass these court rulings and encourage the closure of clinics in Kansas
Additionally, like most US States, Chemical Abortion Pills, which make up more than half of intentional abortions, according to the most recent data from the abortion industry’s own sources, are still legal for distribution in Kansas.
The pills are also responsible for causing four times the complications as surgical abortion, with a risk of death that is ten times higher, according to a National Institute of Health Study.
With the passage of SB286 / HB 2492 this would also be restricted.
What The Legislation Does:
Both SB286 / HB 2492 would prohibit any intentional act of abortion, including through chemical abortion, except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
Specifically, the summary of both bills reads: “Prohibiting abortion procedures except when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman and providing a private cause of action for civil enforcement of such prohibition.”
In short, both bills would:
- Make it unlawful for any person to knowingly perform or induce or attempt to perform or induce an abortion except when necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.
- Ensure that it’s not a crime if a physician provides medical treatment to a pregnant woman that results in accidental or unintentional injury to or the death of the unborn child.
- Prevent the manufacturing, distribution, prescription, selling or dispensing of mifegyne, mifeperex or any other similar generic abortifacient drugs for the purpose of inducing an abortion.
- Allow a private cause of action so that individuals can sue those who committ abortions and close abortion facilities, as Texas’s landmark SB 8 Heartbeat Abortion Prevention Law did before Roe was reversed.
https://hosted-page.civiclick.com/?campaign_ref=4309
What We Have Said About the Issue:
In addition to supporting Life at Conception laws across the country, like HB 1519 in Florida, SFLAction has also been actively campaigning for restrictions on Chemical Abortion Pills in many states and at the federal level, including:
- SB 735 Unborn Child Protection Act by Senator Patricia Rucker
- Senate Bill 278 – The West Virginia Chemical Abortion Prohibition Act, by Senator Patricia Rucker
- Oklahoma HB 3013 introduced by State Reps. Denise Crosswhite Hader, Jim Olsen, and John Talley.
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 1969, by Senator Shane Jett
- Oklahoma Senate Bill 1809, by Senator Nathan Dahm
- House Bill 735 introduced in Mississippi by state Representative Dan Eubanks (R-Walls).
- Wyoming Senate Bill SF 108 – The Clean Water for All Life Act, by Senators Bo Biteman and Tim Salazar.
- The Ending Chemical Abortion Act by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN).
- Senate Bill 217, by Indiana State Senator Mike Young
- SF 109, “Prohibiting Chemical Abortions,” first introduced by Wyoming State Senator Tim Salaza and signed into law in March 2023.
- House Bill 1519, introduced by Florida State Rep. David Borrero.
Stay tuned to this blog for future updates, as we track the progress of this legislation.
To learn more about other legislation moving through Congress that SFLAction supports, CLICK HERE.
