The Utah Legislature appears to be one procedural vote away from banning abortions based on a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Members of the Utah Senate gave a preliminary vote of 21-6, along party lines, for HB166 on Wednesday. The measure already has passed the House but requires an additional vote of the Senate before the bill is sent to Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature or veto.
Wednesday’s vote included no debate, only comments supporting the bill from its Senate sponsor, Provo Republican Sen. Curt Bramble.
“Protecting an unborn child is something that I am just unabashedly passionate about,” Bramble said.
The bill includes requirements for online educational resources that would be implemented immediately, while the larger restriction on abortions would be delayed until similar laws in other states are upheld by the courts.
That change was made to avoid litigation on constitutional grounds, according to the bill’s House sponsor Rep. Karen Lisonbee, R-Clearfield. A previous version of the proposal considered last year, without the implementation delay, was flagged as likely unconstitutional by legislative attorneys.
HB166 is one of two bills currently before the Legislature that would restrict the ability of women in Utah to have an abortion. Another bill, HB136, would ban abortions after 18 weeks of fetal development and is expected to face legal challenges if enacted.
That second bill passed the Utah House on a 57-15 vote on Tuesday and is awaiting Senate action.
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