Abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania.
But as we await the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (expected in late June), anti-abortion lawmakers across the country aren’t even waiting for the ruling to try to criminalize abortion in their state.
Texas officials were the first. The good people of Texas have been suffering under Senate Bill 8 since last September.
Last Thursday, Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill that is even more severe than Texas Senate Bill 8.
Oklahoma’s ban goes further than Texas’s. Not only does it outlaw all abortion, but it also attempts to strip Oklahoma’s state courts from any jurisdiction to consider whether the law violates state constitutional protections.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s anti-abortion lawmakers, meanwhile, are working to advance anti-abortion constitutional amendment Senate Bill 956.
SB 956 would also nullify our state courts as a venue to challenge future abortion restrictions by editing our state constitution with language that could be interpreted to give zygotes paramount rights over the pregnant person.
SB 956 is the first step to pave the way to completely criminalizing abortion in Pennsylvania—and we are hearing it may be up a vote in the Pennsylvania Senate as early as this week.
Will you take action to save reproductive freedom in Pennsylvania?
You will hear a lot more about SB 956 as it moves through the legislative process, and we need you to speak up, and keep speaking up, every step of the way.
Right now, please contact your state Senator and urge them to vote no on SB 956. You can do that easily here, but please follow up with phone calls and messages on social media.
The future of reproductive rights in Pennsylvania is up to us. Spread the word!
Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond. As a non-profit organization, we can not do this work without you. Please consider supporting our work.
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