Ohio Senate Passes Heartbeat Bill, Sends It to Governor DeWine!

The Ohio Senate has passed the Heartbeat Bill (SB 23) with an 18-13 vote. This bill would prohibit abortion once a heartbeat is detected in an unborn child.The bill now heads to Governor Mike DeWine, who has 10 days to sign, veto, or let the bill go into law without his signature.Governor DeWine has previously pledged to sign this life-saving bill.“Ohio’s made history!” said Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values. “Since 1973, countless unborn children have lost their lives to abortion in Ohio. Thanks to the compassion and commitment of the Ohio General Assembly, the Buckeye state will end this atrocity.”“We are deeply grateful to Rep. Candice Keller, Rep. Ron Hood, and Sen. Kristina Roegner for sponsoring this bill. We’re also grateful for the leadership of Chairman Derek Merrin of the House Health Committee, and Chairman Dave Burke of the Senate Health Committee who conducted hours and hours of hearings on these bills, ensuring every Ohioan who wanted to be heard had an opportunity to express their views,” Baer said.“It’s clear we wouldn’t be here today without the leadership of former State Rep. Christina Hagan who championed this bill as its sponsor for so many years. Her tireless efforts are a testimony to the impact one person can make with relentless commitment to a just cause.“We also must thank Speaker of the House Larry Householder and Senate President Larry Obhof who have not wavered in their pro-life support, and have ensured Ohio passed the strongest Heartbeat Bill in the nation.“Lastly, this was truly a team effort. Without the support of pro-life activists and organizations throughout Ohio, our state wouldn’t have passed one of the most important bills in our history. At the risk of forgetting dear friends, we want to especially honor Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, including all of their members, Faith to Action’s Janet Porter, Warren County Right to Life’s Lori Viars, Ohio Values Voters, and Ohio Right to Life who came in at the end to support this bill."We cannot end the atrocities of abortion alone. We need each other to ultimately see the dignity of all life protected.”

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.###