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Statehouse News Bureau

The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

New Abortion Ban Bill Get Its First Hearing In The Ohio House

By Jo Ingles

Published September 29, 2021 at 9:25 PM EDT

Protesters of the abortion ban Senate Bill 123 rally at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. [Jo Ingles / Statehouse News Bureau] — Two women protesters hold signs opposing an abortion ban bill outside the Ohio statehouse in Columbus

The Ohio Senate Health committee heard the first testimony Wednesday on a bill that would immediately ban abortion statewide if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe vs. Wade in a case it will hear from Mississippi this December.

Republican Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) said the bill will outlaw abortion the minute the U.S. Supreme Court allows that. And while it would levy hefty fines on doctors who perform abortions and even create a new felony level abortion crime, she said a person getting an abortion is not the target.

“This does not criminalize the woman at all,” Roegner testified.

Jaime Miracle of NARAL Pro Choice Ohio disagrees.

“Laws that shouldn’t prosecute people for actions during pregnancy are already being weaponized," Miracle said.

Miracle noted a 2015 case in Indiana where a woman spent a year in jail before charges were overturned. This bill does allow for abortions if the pregnant person’s health is in danger, but opponents say the process for getting that exception is difficult, if not impossible.