Ohio Senate Committee to Review 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period Bill
Ohio Senate committee will hear Wednesday testimony supporting a 24-hour abortion waiting period despite courts blocking similar measures after voters approved reproductive rights protections.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Ohio Senate Health Committee will hear testimony Wednesday supporting a bill that would reinstate a 24-hour waiting period before abortion procedures, despite a state court blocking enforcement of such measures after voters approved constitutional protections for reproductive rights.
Ohio House Bill 347 would require pregnant individuals to meet with a medical professional at least 24 hours before an abortion procedure. The legislation comes as state lawmakers prepare for their summer break.
The measure seeks to restore a previous provision in state law that courts have barred from enforcement following the passage of a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights, which Ohio voters approved by 57% in 2023.
Medical Board Authority Expanded
Under the proposed legislation, physicians would be required to provide informed consent information during the mandatory appointment, with civil penalties imposed for violations. The bill would authorize the Ohio State Medical Board to create rules “specifying adverse physical or psychological conditions arising from abortion that a physician must disclose as possible complications” when meeting with pregnant patients.
The current composition of the medical board includes only one OB/GYN among its membership. The board president is a dermatologist, while the vice president is a podiatrist.
Other medical professionals serving on the board specialize in pulmonology, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, spinal treatments, and internal medicine. Three board members are attorneys, including Michael Gonidakis, a former leader and current member of the anti-abortion group Ohio Right to Life.
Legislative Timeline and Justifications
Supporters scheduled to testify before the Senate Health Committee argue the bill does not prevent abortions from occurring, which would conflict with the constitutional amendment enshrining abortion and other reproductive health rights into the state constitution.
Bill advocates maintain the measure focuses on providing necessary information to pregnant individuals before they undergo an abortion procedure. The timing of the committee hearing comes as the legislature prepares for an extended summer recess.
Constitutional Challenges Ahead
The proposed waiting period faces potential legal challenges given that state courts have already blocked enforcement of similar provisions following the 2023 constitutional amendment. The amendment, passed by a significant majority of Ohio voters, established broad protections for reproductive rights in the state.
The legislation represents an effort to navigate the legal environment created by the constitutional protections while maintaining what supporters describe as patient safety measures. Critics question whether such requirements create barriers to healthcare access despite constitutional guarantees.
The Wednesday hearing will provide the first formal legislative forum for supporters to present their case for the waiting period requirement since the constitutional amendment took effect.
