Utah Governor Signs Bill Banning Abortion Clinics and Some Abortions
The bill bans new licensing for abortion clinics but unfortunately leaves many exceptions for abortion
Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill into law Wednesday that bars new licenses for abortion clinics beginning in May.
The bill also bans abortions after 18 weeks of age in abortion clinics beginning in 2024.
A trigger law banning abortion outright that went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year was subsequently blocked by a federal court in June.
The “Abortion Changes” bill was sponsored by state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee and sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Daniel MacCay and while it would prevent many clinics from operating and many abortions from being performed, it features a number of notable exceptions by design.
"We in Utah have a long-standing tradition — since before statehood — of protecting the unborn by outlawing abortion," Lisbonbee said when the bill was introduced. "We have compassionate exemptions, and we have compassionate law and services for women who find themselves in a situation, and we as a state ought to support them in making the decision that they need to make. That's what this bill does, in a compassionate and thoughtful way."
The legislation also provides that “inducing or performing an abortion contrary to statutory requirements is unprofessional conduct” for physicians, registered nurses, or midwifes.
While many legal strides have been made in the effort to end abortion through laws that leave exceptions for certain cases, we cannot profess to be a nation that values human life if we continue to discriminate against unborn lives.
Every single life is precious, and we must not rest until every abortion is abolished.