In a surprising move, Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Montana’s House Judiciary Committee agreed to table a contentious bill criminalizing abortion “trafficking” across state lines if abortion were illegal. The decision saw eight Republicans join all eight Democrats to set aside House Bill 609. Only four Republicans opposed the motion.
Previously, another bill, House Bill 555, aiming to restrict medication abortion, was also tabled by the committee, with similar Republican support for the Democrats.
Rep. Tracy Sharp, R-Polson, who initiated the move to table HB 609, expressed discomfort with the bill, referencing the passage of Constitutional Initiative 128, which will protect abortion rights in Montana’s Constitution. Rep. Braxton Mitchell also opposed the bill, criticizing its severe penalties on pregnant women.
Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, the sponsor of both HB 609 and HB 555, requested their tabling after intense hearings. She clarified that HB 609 was not intended to target women with severe fetal anomalies. “I call it ‘spiked.’ We get spiked by people,” she explained, emphasizing the bill’s aim to prevent abortions for viable pregnancies.
During the hearings, members of the public and lawmakers criticized HB 609 for potentially criminalizing women facing complex pregnancies. The bill was described as “cruel” and “disappointing” given the recent constitutional amendment supporting abortion rights.
Seekins-Crowe argued that the amendment’s language is challenging to interpret, fueling concerns over unrestricted abortion access. Despite backlash from abortion rights groups, she encouraged ongoing legislative debate on the issue. “Why can’t I have an opinion?” she asked.
In hearings, few Republicans questioned the bill, while Democrats highlighted its potential to criminalize pregnant women and their supporters. The Montana Family Foundation supported the bill, asserting it aligned with CI-128, allowing post-viability abortion regulation.
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