TALLAHASSEE, FL – Today, the Senate Health Policy Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 300 (SB 300), a bill that prevents individuals from accessing safe and legal abortions after six weeks of pregnancy — before many even know they are pregnant — and would criminalize medical professionals who provide such life-saving care.
The ACLU of Florida opposes this bill and its companion bill, House Bill 7, which passed the House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee last week.
Kara Gross, ACLU of Florida’s legislative director and senior policy counsel, responded to today’s vote with the following:
“This bill will virtually eliminate legal abortion care in Florida. It will force hundreds of thousands of pregnant people to travel out of state to seek the care they need. Many people will not even know they are pregnant by six weeks, and for those who do, it is unlikely they will be able to schedule the legally required two in-person doctor’s appointments before 6 weeks of pregnancy.
“Most people will be forced to remain pregnant against their will and endure labor, delivery, and all of the significant medical and financial risks associated with pregnancy. This bill will unfairly and disproportionately impact people who live in rural communities, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, people of color, immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is an extreme bill that is out of touch with what Floridians want and need. Bills like SB 300 ignore the fact that a super-majority of Floridians overwhelmingly support safe, legal, and accessible abortion care. We all should have the freedom to make decisions about our bodies, lives, and futures without interference from politicians.”
