JEFFERSON CITY • The Missouri House moved to ban abortions after 20 weeks Monday.
Over the objections of a bloc of Democratic lawmakers, the measure would ban abortions after what the bill calls the “pain capable” stage of development, or 20 weeks after fertilization.
“When a baby is poked at, that baby moves away at whatever is poking it,” said Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, who sponsored the proposal.
The current limit in Missouri is 22 weeks.
The proposal, which was debated on the Legislature's first day back from a week-long spring break, still needs a final vote in the House before moving to the Senate for further deliberation.
Lichtenegger introduced similar legislation last year, but it failed to advance in the Legislature. The measure is also similar to one that failed to win approval in the U.S. Senate in January.
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Opponents said life-threatening medical problems sometimes arise after the 20-week period that might necessitate an abortion.
“Not every fetus develops as they originally were meant to. Sometimes things happen. Anomalies happen,” said Rep. Sue Meredith, D-St. Louis.
The proposed change is the second measure dealing with abortion moving through the Republican-controlled General Assembly this spring.
Under legislation approved earlier this month, both parents would have to be notified when a minor seeks an abortion.
State law currently requires only one parent or guardian to offer written consent if a woman 18 or younger attempts to get an abortion.
The move to ban abortions after 20 weeks in Missouri comes after Mississippi lawmakers sent Republican Gov. Phil Bryant a 15-week abortion ban, which would be the most restrictive in the nation.
A federal judge quickly blocked the law.
Abortion legislation was approved in the Missouri Legislature last year during a special session called by Gov. Eric Greitens.
The new law enacts several new rules, including a provision that requires the same physician performing an abortion to be the one giving state-mandated information to a patient 72 hours in advance of the abortion.
Under previous law, any “qualified professional” was allowed to discuss that information with the patient.
Two Planned Parenthood groups sued the state in October, arguing the law is unconstitutional, because it places “extreme and unprecedented” requirements on women seeking abortion which “unduly restrict” their access to the procedure.
