For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Contact: Cindy Dahlgren
480-674-2636
A Statement from Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod, Esq.
A major pro-life bill passed out of both the House and Senate today with clarifying adjustments to the language, but not to the intent of the life-affirming bill.
SB 1457 had previously passed out of the full House and Senate along party lines, but failed to pass the final Senate vote because of some language clarification concerns. With those concerns addressed, lawmakers passed the bill out of conference committee and then the full House and Senate.
The vote came just days after a federal appeals court upheld a similar law in Ohio, providing more evidence of constitutionality for the prohibition of abortion based on a genetic condition like Down syndrome.
SB 1457 is a commonsense bill that prohibits abortion based on the diagnosis of a genetic abnormality, except for those with a lethal fetal condition. It also protects women from the dangers of chemical abortions by ensuring the pills are not delivered through the mail, leaving women to fend for themselves during the risky ordeal.
It also repeals a pre-Roe law that punishes women who have abortions, and it establishes Arizona laws will be interpreted in the context of valuing all human life. It also prohibits public institutions from performing abortions or experimenting with aborted human remains.
Arizonans can be proud of SB 1457 sponsor, Senator Nancy Barto, and the other lawmakers who voted in favor of protecting the most vulnerable among us. They showed bravery and human decency in passing this important, life-affirming legislation.