Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bill Banning Abortion from Moment of Fertilization
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The Oklahoma legislature approved a law on Thursday that would ban almost all abortions from the moment of fertilization, sending the bill to Republican governor Kevin Stitt to sign.
The law, which constitutes the most sweeping pro-life legislation passed by any state, allows anyone to sue a doctor or other person who “aids or abets” an abortion from the moment of fertilization for up to $10,000. While modeled on Texas’s ban on abortions upon detection of a fetal heartbeat, the Oklahoma law would ban almost all abortions, with exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
The bill would go into effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.
The proposed law is among several similar restrictions on abortion that Oklahoma’s government has already approved, in anticipation of a potential reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court.
One of those restrictions includes a law declaring it a felony offense to perform an abortion, which will take effect in August unless a court challenge blocks it. Under that law, someone found guilty of performing an abortion could face up to ten years in prison and a $100,000 fine, with exceptions for performing an abortion in cases where the mother’s life is threatened.
“We’re going to sign every piece of pro-life legislation that hits our desk,” Stitt said at a signing ceremony for that law. “We want it clear that we want to choose life in Oklahoma. We don’t want to allow abortions in the state of Oklahoma.”
