Given the high-profile nature of goings-on in the U.S. Congress, it can be easy to lose track of legislative developments in the states. However, the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has recently drawn many people’s attention back to state laws and legislative efforts, as the prospect of states regaining their jurisdiction over laws to protect the unborn comes into view for the first time since Roe v. Wade took it from the states nearly 50 years ago.
In the last few months alone, 273 pro-life bills have been introduced and are moving through legislatures at the state level, with a few key bills signed into law in the past several weeks.
West Virginia’s SB 468, known as the Unborn Child with Down Syndrome Protection and Education Act, protects unborn children diagnosed with a disability from discriminatory abortions. This type of legislation is greatly needed, as unborn children diagnosed with a disability are the most common victims of such abortions. Thankfully, this bill was signed into law in West Virginia on March 21.
Wyoming’s HB 92, signed into law on March 15, will establish full protections for the unborn (and fully end government funding of abortion) in the event that Roe is overturned. At least four other state legislatures — Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina — are currently considering similar legislation.
As we can see, state legislators across the country are not waiting until the U.S. Supreme Court announces a decision in Dobbs but are instead proactively passing legislation to protect the unborn and their mothers.
meanwhile, the MD Legislature is a chamber of death.