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Rep. Becker introduces Human Life Protection Act

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State Rep. John Becker, R-Clermont County, has introduced House Bill 538 to return Ohio abortion law to pre-Roe v. Wade statutes.

His legislation, the Human Life Protection Act, would apply if the United States Supreme Court overturns the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and its successive verdicts.

Ohio has a number of pro-life laws already on the books that have been voided by Roe v. Wade and ensuing court rulings, which relied heavily on judicial activism to legalize abortion-on-demand nationwide.

“The goal of this legislation is to modernize Ohio law so we can protect the sanctity of innocent human life,” Becker said.

The measure will return right-to-life protections to children still in utero, and update pro-life defenses in state law to reflect current standards and language.

So far, the measure has garnered co-sponsorship from nearly 40 percent of the House GOP from districts across the state.

Additionally, multiple pro-life groups support the bill, including Citizens for Community Values, Ohio Right to Life, and Right to Life of Northeast Ohio.

A key provision included in the measure is a condition precedent, meaning the bill could become law but would not apply unless or until the United States Supreme Court returns life decisions back to the states.

Among its provisions, House Bill 538 includes a life of the mother exception and prohibits “post-birth” abortions. The measure also outlaws abortifacients, which are drugs or devices that end the life of an unborn child. “The pill” and other forms of birth control are not impacted by HB 538. Eight other states currently have similar legislation in place, Becker said.

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