'Restrictive' Abortion Bill Passes Ohio House

COLUMBUS, OH — Legislation passed by the Ohio House Wednesday would ban certain doctors from working with abortion clinics and could lead to the shuttering of Planned Parenthood clinics in southwest Ohio.

“Ohio Republicans continue to wage their war against women as they seek opportunities to restrict abortion access in Ohio. SB 157 would force abortion providers in Southwest Ohio to close, thereby eliminating constitutionally guaranteed health care from Ohio women in that area of the state," said state Rep. Kent Smith, a Democrat from Euclid.

Senate Bill 157 would prohibit doctors who work for or teach at a state medical school or public institution from working with abortion clinics. The legislation also expands the crime of manslaughter to include doctors who "fail to take measures to preserve the health of a child born alive after abortion."

Some doctors and mothers worry that miscarriages could now end with doctors rushing babies away to attempt "lifesaving measures" instead of giving parents time to grieve, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

Ultimately, the bill would "interfere with the ability of doctors and patients to make appropriate and life-saving medical decisions if faced with a medical crisis during pregnancy," Smith said.

The legislation passed Wednesday along party lines, with Republicans pushing the bill through by a vote of 59-33. House Democrats fumed at the result. Senate Bill 157 will now head to committee before being sent to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

“Despite support for women’s choice across the country, Republicans in Ohio are pushing extreme legislation that will revert our great country to the past where women died in alleys due to lack of access to safe abortions," said state Rep. Lisa Sobecki, a Democrat from Toledo.

Abortion in Ohio

Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 20 weeks, but there are restrictions on who can receive an abortion and how.

According to the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute and the Ohio Right to Life group, Ohio patients must receive counseling prior to getting an abortion and state-funded health care plans will only cover abortions in the event that it threatens the mother's life, or in cases of rape or incest.

Over the past several years, Ohio Republicans have targeted abortion access, with Senate Bill 157 being the latest attempt to trim abortion availability in the state. The legislation was introduced by two Ohio Republicans — state Sen. Stephen A. Huffman and state Sen. Terry Johnson.

"Ohio is a pro-life state. Senate Bill 157 is another step in our continued commitment to uphold the sanctity of human life," Huffman said when he introduced the legislation in October 2021. He added, "I remain unapologetic in my fight to protect the unborn. This includes being diligent about how the state is using tax dollars and those will not be used to support abortions in Ohio."

Planned Parenthood of Ohio advocates said the passage of Senate Bill 157 will effectively shutter clinics in southwest Ohio.