Oklahoma lawmakers pass sweeping pro-life bill

Oklahoma state Senate approved a House bill Thursday to protect the unborn from abortion at any point during pregnancy except to save the life of a mother or in cases of rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement. The bill is expected to reach Gov. Kevin Stitt early next week, who will likely sign it. It would take effect upon signature, and providers have said they will stop performing abortions immediately. The bill does not restrict the use of abortive pills. Two of Oklahoma’s four abortion centers had already stopped operations after a law protecting babies after six weeks of gestation took effect earlier this month.

Will there be penalties? Thursday’s bill does not criminalize abortion. Like the Texas heartbeat law, citizens can sue abortionists or anyone who helps a woman end her pregnancy. Another state bill, signed and set to go into effect this summer, makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by 10 years in prison and does not make exceptions for rape or incest. There are legal challenges to both bills, but neither is under any injunctions.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ article in Vitals on Oklahoma’s old and new abortion laws.