Indiana state Rep Troy Woodruff (R) said he had filed a bill (HB 1096) that would make abortion illegal in the state unless delivering the baby would endanger the life or health of the mother.
The bill will change state law to make performing an abortion a Class C felony, carrying a two- to eight-year prison sentence.Woodruff said he introduced the bill in part because a state must pass a law and then appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court to see if Roe v. Wade—the 1973 Supreme Court case that effectively barred state abortion bans—would be overturned.
The bill likely is likely to be allocated to the state House Public Policy and Veterans Affairs Committee. Committee Chair Marlin Stutzman (R) said he supports the bill, which is "very close to his heart." However, he is uncertain if he will be able to schedule a hearing for it because of the short legislative session.
