Louisiana lawmakers pass law expanding abortion liabilities

The Louisiana House of Representatives gave a final vote Tuesday to pass a bill that expands liability criteria for abortion procedures. Legislators in the state House first passed the statute with a 59-25 vote about a month ago. The state’s Senate passed the bill with amendments on Sunday with a 28-9 vote. The House voted 77-18 on Tuesday to approve the changes made in the Senate before it’s sent to Gov. Jeff Landry‘s desk.

How would the law change the state’s already strict abortion laws? The bill would make a person or entity who causes or substantially facilitates an abortion liable to the mother of the unborn child, regardless of whether the child dies as a result, according to the legislation. The bill considers any person or entity liable for substantially facilitating an abortion if they administer, prescribe, dispense, distribute, market, advertise, promote, or sell the abortion inducing drugs used.

The law also allows the father or grandparents of an unborn child to bring charges as well. The person taking action may be entitled to special damages, general damages, exemplary damages, court costs, and attorney fees, according to the bill. A person may also be entitled to statutory damages of at least $100,000 if the defendant is not licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report about a case under a New York law similar to Louisiana’s.