Frank Rondel
Two abortion-related bills are currently moving through the Wyoming legislature, signaling a potential shift in the state’s reproductive health policies, reports customreceipt.com via ABC.
The first, HB0126, known as the Human Heartbeat Act, would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, a point at which many individuals may not yet be aware they are pregnant. The legislation allows abortions only in medical emergencies, where the mother’s life is at risk or continuing the pregnancy could cause severe or irreversible damage to a major bodily function. Notably, the bill does not provide exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Violations of the act could result in felony charges carrying penalties of up to five years in prison, fines up to $10,000, or both.
Supporters argue the measure provides protections for unborn children. Republican House Speaker Rep. Chip Neiman stated during a Wyoming House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee meeting that the bill “provides a line in the sand” to protect the rights of fetuses after cardiac activity is detected. The legislation also references medical research claiming fetuses can feel pain at 15 weeks, though the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) asserts that scientific consensus indicates fetuses cannot experience pain until at least 24–25 weeks of gestation.
The second bill, HB117, titled “Stop Harm—Empower Women with Informed Notices,” would require healthcare providers to give written notices to pregnant patients before performing an abortion. These notices must outline the proposed abortion method, associated medical risks, alternative options such as adoption or parenting, and potential risks of carrying a pregnancy to term. Individuals who feel coerced into undergoing an abortion would have the right to sue providers for a minimum of $25,000. The bill also addresses the use of the abortion medication mifepristone, requiring providers to inform patients that the drug may not always terminate a pregnancy and to consult a healthcare professional if they regret their decision. ACOG maintains that so-called medication abortion “reversal” procedures are unproven and unethical.
Earlier this week, the Wyoming House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee recommended both bills for passage. They will next be considered by the full Wyoming State House, where they may be debated, amended, and voted on.
Currently, abortion is permitted in Wyoming up to the point of fetal viability, roughly 25 weeks, according to ACOG. Only licensed physicians may perform abortions, and each procedure must be reported to the Wyoming Department of Health within 20 days, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
In 2023, Wyoming enacted two abortion bans, which were subsequently ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court for violating a 2012 amendment guaranteeing each competent adult the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Governor Mark Gordon recently addressed the issue in his State of the State speech, suggesting that voters should have a decisive role in determining state abortion policy, emphasizing the moral and governmental responsibilities involved.
Earlier we wrote that Early Prenatal Care in U.S. Drops to 75.5%, Minority Mothers Face Highest Delays