HB22-1279 (Froelich & Esgar/Gonzales) Reproductive Health Equity Act
Summary
This bill declares that every individual has the right to use or refuse contraception; every pregnant person has the right to continue a pregnancy or have an abortion; and a fetus, fertilized egg, or embryo does not have rights under the state. It prohibits public entities from interfering with an individual’s rights to contraception and abortion, as well as depriving an individual of their right to act or refrain from acting during their pregnancy.
Position
The Children’s Campaign supports this bill. The decision about whether, when or how to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions we make. Having access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion, helps ensure that people can control their own bodies, lives, and futures. Creating a just and equitable world means prohibiting restrictions on abortion care, because the harm falls hardest on those who already face significant barriers to care and those who are struggling to make ends meet — young people, LGBTQ+ individuals and People of Color.
Current Status
The bill passed its third reading in the Senate, unamended, on a vote of 20-15.
Previous Statuses
March 20, 2022
The bill passed the House and was introduced in the Senate. It was heard in the Judiciary Committee on March 17 and was referred unamended to the Senate Committee as a whole. You can take action to support this bill as it moves through the Senate by sending an action alert and signing a petition.
March 11, 2022
This bill passed out of the House Health and Insurance Committee on a vote of 7-4. If you want to show your support for the bill, you can take action here.
