Daily Women's Health Policy Report Summarizes Legislative Action In Three States

The following summarizes recent news coverage of action on state bills related to reproductive health and embryonic stem cell research.

~ Texas: House lawmakers are considering a bill (H.B. 36) that would require women to undergo an ultrasound, view the ultrasound images, hear the fetal heartbeat and listen to an explanation of fetal development at least two hours before an abortion procedure, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The Star-Telegram reports that the bill is expected to initiate the state's largest abortion debate since lawmakers passed a parental consent bill in 2005, and abortion-right opponents say it is a top priority this legislative session. The bill's opponents say it is unnecessary, as most clinics already perform ultrasounds, and is an example of politicians interfering in medical procedures. The Star-Telegram reports that a Texas Senate committee has approved a similar bill (S.B. 182) but that the full Senate has yet to consider the measure (Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4/22).

~ Oklahoma: Gov. Brad Henry (D) on Wednesday vetoed a bill (H.B. 1326) that would have made conducting embryonic stem cell research a misdemeanor, saying that the bill would unjustly criminalize researchers, the AP/KJRH-Tulsa reports. Henry said the bill would threaten potentially life-saving research and hinder long-running efforts to develop the state's biotechnology sector (Jenkins, AP/KJRH-Tulsa, 4/23). The House on Thursday voted to override the veto, but the override attempt failed in the Senate, and the veto was sustained (Hoberock, Tulsa World, 4/24).

~ Tennessee: Republican lawmakers on Wednesday announced a bill (S.B. 0470) that would require the state Department of Health to offer state funding to public clinics before offering the money to private clinics that support abortion, such as Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee and Memphis Regional Planned Parenthood, the AP/Tennessean reports. According to the AP/Tennessean, Planned Parenthood currently receives about $1.2 million that is distributed to clinics across the state. None of the state funding the organization receives can be used for abortion and instead is used to provide birth control and other reproductive health services (Johnson, AP/Tennessean, 4/22).


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