‘Heartbeat’ abortion bill is re-introduced by Ohio lawmakers

Two Ohio lawCOLUMBUS — makers have re-introduced the “heartbeat bill,” which would outlaw abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

State Reps. Ron Hood, R-Ashville, and Candice Keller, R-Middletown, re-introduced the “heartbeat bill” and said they have 50 co-sponsors for the measure in the 99-member Ohio House.

House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, said last week he would like to see the Senate pass the heartbeat abortion ban bill first.

Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, said Tues- day the heartbeat bill would be a top priority for the Sen- ate GOP caucus.

“We are going to intro- duce it next week and we will pass it by the middle of March,” Obhof said last week. “We were planning on doing that irrespective of what happened in the other chamber.”

Opponents of the bill have argued it is unconstitutional, with NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio calling it an unacceptable restriction on access to health care.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Ohio Medical Asso- ciation also have opposed the heartbeat bill.

Ohio Right to Life, the state’s oldest and largest anti-abortion organization, had been neutral about it but embraced the bill in December after then-Gov. John Kasich signed a ban on dilation and evacuation terminations. The organization committed to advocating for the bill this year, call- ing it “the next incremental approach to end abortion in Ohio.”

While Kasich, a Republi- can, twice vetoed heartbeat abortion ban bills, Gov. Mike DeWine has said he would sign the measure into law. Ohio Right to Life announced the legislation is now a top priority.