SB 208, sponsored by Sen. Dr. Terry Johnson, and SB 155, sponsored by Sen. Lehner, both represent major pro-life victories for the state of Ohio

COLUMBUS — In a huge win for life, the Ohio Senate just passed the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) Information Act (SB 155) and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act (SB 208).

Sponsored by Senator Peggy Lehner, the APR Act protects women's power of choice by requiring doctors inform patients that the first pill taken in a chemical abortion may be reversed with a large dose of progesterone.

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act, sponsored by physician Senator Terry Johnson, ensures that babies who survive an abortion are guaranteed the same standard of medical care and effort as everyone else. It also requires abortion providers to report the number of babies born alive after an attempted abortion and creates a cause of action for mothers to sue doctors who fail to provide adequate care for their child.

"The State Senate just ensured Ohio's most vulnerable have basic protections under law," said Aaron Baer, President of Citizens for Community Values. "Support for SB 155 and SB 208 shouldn't be about whether you're "pro-life" or "pro-choice." We should all be able to agree that women deserve basic information that could save their unborn child, and that children born after a botched abortion should have every chance at life."

"We are so grateful to President Obhof for continuing to be a force for good in the Senate and our state. When doctors are held accountable for providing complete information and providing equal treatment for all infants, Ohio women win," said Baer.

Over the past two months, Citizens for Community Values Legal Counsel Rachel Citak has testified twice before the Senate Heath Committee as a proponent on behalf of CCV for two important life-saving measures that have just passed in the Ohio Senate.

“Paternalistic coercion [is] the elimination of a woman’s power to choose because she has been deemed incompetent to choose…Truly trusting women means making sure they have all of the information that they need in order to make an informed decision," Rachel testified.

 “We are not keeping track of how many babies are born from failed abortion attempts, which sends a message to the medical field that these babies matter less than others who are wanted—and no one [is being] held accountable for their substandard care.”

The final Senate floor votes were as follows:

For the APR Act (SB 155) - 23

Blessing, Louis (R-Cincinnati)

Brenner, Andy (R-Powell)

Burke, Dave (R-Marysville)

Coley, Bill (R-Liberty Township)

Dolan, Matt (R-Chagrin Falls)

Eklund, John (R-Chardon)

Gavarone, Theresa (R-Bowling Green)

Hackett, Bob (R-London)

Hoagland, Frank (R-Adena)

Hottinger, Jay (R-Newark)

Huffman, Matt (R-Lima)

Huffman, Steve (R-Tipp City)

Johnson, Terry (R-McDermott)

Lehner, Peggy (R-Kettering)

Manning, Nathan (R-N. Ridgeville)

McColley, Rob (R-Napoleon)

Obhof, Larry (R-Medina)

Peterson, Bob (R-Sabina)

Roegner, Kristina (R-Hudson)

Rulli, Michael (R-Salem)

Schaffer, Tim (R-Lancaster)

Schuring, Kirk (R-Canton)

Wilson, Steve (R-Maineville)

Against the APR Act (SB 155) - 10

Antonio, Nickie (D-Lakewood)

Craig, Hearcel (D-Columbus)

Fedor, Teresa (D-Toledo)

Kunze, Stephanie (R-Hilliard)

Maharath, Tina (D-Canal Winchester)

O'Brien, Sean (D-Bazetta)

Sykes, Vernon (D-Akron)

Thomas, Cecil (D-Cincinnati)

Williams, Sandra (D-Cleveland)

Yuko, Kenny (D-Richmond Hts.)

For the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act (SB 208) - 24

Blessing, Louis (R-Cincinnati)

Brenner, Andy (R-Powell)

Burke, Dave (R-Marysville)

Coley, Bill (R-Liberty Township)

Dolan, Matt (R-Chagrin Falls)

Eklund, John (R-Chardon)

Gavarone, Theresa (R-Bowling Green)

Hackett, Bob (R-London)

Hoagland, Frank (R-Adena)

Hottinger, Jay (R-Newark)

Huffman, Matt (R-Lima)

Huffman, Steve (R-Tipp City)

Johnson, Terry (R-McDermott)

Kunze, Stephanie (R-Hilliard)

Lehner, Peggy (R-Kettering)

Manning, Nathan (R-N. Ridgeville)

McColley, Rob (R-Napoleon)

Obhof, Larry (R-Medina)

Peterson, Bob (R-Sabina)

Roegner, Kristina (R-Hudson)

Rulli, Michael (R-Salem)

Schaffer, Tim (R-Lancaster)

Schuring, Kirk (R-Canton)

Wilson, Steve (R-Maineville)

Against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act (SB 208) - 9

Antonio, Nickie (D-Lakewood)

Craig, Hearcel (D-Columbus)

Fedor, Teresa (D-Toledo)

Maharath, Tina (D-Canal Winchester)

O'Brien, Sean (D-Bazetta)

Sykes, Vernon (D-Akron)

Thomas, Cecil (D-Cincinnati)

Williams, Sandra (D-Cleveland)

Yuko, Kenny (D-Richmond Hts.)

You can watch the floor vote and Senate Health Committee testimonies online at The Ohio Channel.

For more information, contact Citizens for Community Values at info@ccv.org, or 513.733.5775.

 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.

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