HB 7: Pregnancy and Parenting Support was filed today. Last year, the legislature limited abortion access to 15 weeks. New provisions in this bill would ban a majority of abortions after 6 weeks, prohibit the use of state funds for someone to travel to another state to receive an abortion, and require mandatory reporting to the Department of Health.
Representative Rayner-Goolsby released the following statement:
“This bill is another regressive step towards a full, outright ban on abortion. HB7 is an abortion ban. A majority of people seeking abortion care in Florida would no longer have the option if this bill is passed and signed by the Governor.
“The Abortion Ban Bill does not take into consideration the health or well-being of people who are pregnant. The Abortion Ban Bill does not take into consideration vital components like miscarriages, the health of the parent, human trafficking, rape, or incest into why abortion is necessary and seek reproductive healthcare. The Abortion Ban Bill is a health risk to families in every county of Florida.
“Instead of ensuring people are able to afford housing, solving the property insurance crisis and providing equitable relief from hurricanes, Republican leadership is more concerned with restricting and banning access to safe healthcare procedures.
“Access to safe abortions is fundamental to reproductive healthcare and should stay that way in order to protect our women from harm. If the State continues to promote their dangerous, extremist agenda, which is out of touch with the majority of Americans on this issue, the legislature will be back in this chamber to find a solution to deal with drastic healthcare and criminal recourse of this political stunt by Ron DeSantis. This rhetoric by my colleagues that this legislation will protect children is a lie when the exact opposite being put forth is this bill jeopardizing the health and safety of women and birthing people in Florida.
“The same faith extremists using to weaponize abortion, is reinforcing my commitment to do everything in my power to protect families, keep the government out of our personal decisions, and fight this legislation to create safer solutions for healthcare and abortion access in Florida.”
