The bill, if passed, would try to extend civil and criminal protections beginning at the point of conception instead of beginning at birth. Doing so would make abortions an act of homicide and, as the bill reads, “entirely abolish abortion in this state.”
H.B. 370 would, however, allow for abortions if necessary to save the life of the mother, so long as the procedure is “accompanied by reasonable steps, if available, to save the life of her unborn child.”
It’s not clear exactly how the bill would interact with Ohio’s newest constitutional amendment, passed by 57% of voters in 2023, which protects abortion access up to the point of fetal viability.
H.B. 370 would try to sidestep the state’s fundamental law protecting abortion by deferring to the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment, which asserts that the state shall not “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, made a similar argument to this outlet in October 2024 when he outlined his legislative priorities.
“At what point is the baby allowed to enjoy his or her constitutionally assured right to life or defending his or her life?” asked Newman, a longtime pastor who called the state’s abortion protection “the worst mistake Ohio ever made.”
Abortion-rights advocates, like House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, have panned the proposal for going against the will of Ohio voters. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, said she suspects the bill’s real intent is to create a legal challenge that could undermine Ohio’s abortion-rights protections.
Others, like newly elected Ohio Democratic Chair Kathleen Clyde, have raised alarms as to how the bill would impact the legality of in vitro fertilization.
“Instead of lowering the cost of food or healthcare, Ohio Republicans are once again ignoring the will of the voters and making it even more difficult to start a family or make choices about your own body,” Clyde said in a statement this week.
As far as Republican leaders go, House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, did not address the legislation when asked about it Wednesday as the bill had not yet been formally introduced.
Newman nor his joint sponsor Rep. Levi Dean, R-Xenia, responded to this outlet’s request for an interview about their bill.
Other local lawmakers have already given their support to the bill, including Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, Rep. Diane Mullins, R-Hamilton, and Rep. Thomas Hall, R-Madison Twp.
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Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
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