Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt Signs Bill Criminalizing Abortion

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill Tuesday that will effectively outlaw abortion in the state.

SB 612, which Stitt signed at a news conference Tuesday morning, makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The law does not include punishments for the person receiving the abortion.

The law comes as Republican-led states continue to peel back abortion protections through legislation. Texas's SB 8, which is known as the fetal heartbeat bill and took effect six months ago, outlaws abortions after six weeks in many cases and gives enforcement power to civilians, who can sue abortion providers or anyone who "aids or abets" an abortion for up to $10,000. A Mississippi law that bans abortions outright after 15 weeks is being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Two other Oklahoma abortion bills modeled after Texas' fetal heartbeat bill are working their way through the Legislature. SB 1503 bans abortions after six weeks, while HB 4327 is a total ban with exceptions for medical emergencies or pregnancies that are the result of rape, sexual assault or incest that has been reported to law enforcement. Both bills would leave enforcement to civil lawsuits brought by private citizens.

• Related: Murder Charge Dropped Against Texas Woman For 'Self-Induced Abortion'

SB 612 passed with more than 80 percent support in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature.

"I promised Oklahomans I'd sign every pro-life bill that hit my desk, and that's what we're doing here today," Stitt said. "We want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country. We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the law unconstitutional and extreme and called on Congress to pass the Women's Health Protection Act in a statement.

"The actions today in Oklahoma are a part of a disturbing national trend attacking women’s rights, and the Biden administration will continue to stand with women in Oklahoma and across the country in the fight to defend their freedom to make their own choices about their futures," Psaki said.

Stitt acknowledged the new law will face swift challenges from "liberal activists from the coast," whom he accused of wanting to dictate and mandate Oklahomans' way of life.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma released a statement condemning the new law and warning of the other abortion laws making their way through the Oklahoma Legislature.

"Today's signing is a reminder of the immediate threat to our community's health and reproductive freedom, serving as a placeholder to a rapidly approaching future without access to safe and legal abortion," ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Tamya Cox-Touré said. "It is no surprise the governor would dismiss the local advocates who continue to challenge bills like SB 612; he has been dismissing Oklahomans for years with his harmful policies on health care, criminal justice reform, and economic growth."

ACLU Oklahoma described the law as destructive for Oklahomans as it will force thousands of patients to turn elsewhere to receive abortions. Oklahoma abortion providers and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America are vowing to fight the law and any other abortion laws that pass this session, according to the ACLU.

"I look forward to defending this law," Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor said. "This is a collision of two worldviews, and our view is that life begins at conception."

Since Texas passed Senate Bill 8, many Texans have gone across state borders, including Oklahoma, to receive abortions.

"It is not our intention to have people flood into our state for abortions, so hopefully this bill will curb that," Stitt said.