The following article is courtesy of National Partnership of Women & Families.

April 26, 2010 — Several states are debating and advancing new restrictions on abortion rights, “a trend fueled in part by” passage of the federal health reform law (PL 111-148), USA Today reports. Elizabeth Nash of the Guttmacher Institute said that at least 22 states are weighing bills that would increase waiting periods or counseling prior to an abortion, while 18 states are debating measures that would expand pre-abortion ultrasound requirements. Nash added, “This year, particularly in the past couple of weeks, it’s really turned into a free-for-all on trying to restrict abortions.”
Mary Spaulding Balch of the National Right to Life Committee said that 2010 has been “very successful” for state measures restricting abortion rights.

According to USA Today, the “most significant” measure is the recently signed Nebraska law (LB 1103) that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks based on its supporters’ claim that fetuses can feel pain at that point. Restrictions in other abortion laws are generally pegged to fetal viability. USA Today reports that legal challenges against the Nebraska law are “likely.”

Other antiabortion-rights measures working their way through state legislatures include a Tennessee bill (HB 2686), passed last week, that would ban abortion coverage in insurance plans sold through state insurance exchanges, which will be created under the federal reform law. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Diane Black (R), said the measure would apply even if premiums were paid with private funds because public funds would be used to help run the exchange. Legislatures in four other states — Louisiana (HB 1247), Mississippi (HB 1760), Missouri (SB 747) and Oklahoma (HB 3290) — are considering similar measures.

In addition, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry (D) recently vetoed a bill (HB 2780) that would have required abortion providers to show an ultrasound image to the woman, who would have been allowed to avert her eyes. An override attempt is expected, USA Today reports. Meanwhile, Kansas legislators are expected to attempt to override Gov. Mark Parkinson’s (D) veto of a bill (HB 2115) that would have required providers to report a medical diagnosis for abortion late in pregnancy. Earlier this year, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed a bill (HB 462) that allows homicide charges to be filed against women who arrange illegal abortions (Young, USA Today, 4/26).